Katchatheevu issue: Nirmala Sitharaman asks DMK to stop disseminating ‘falsehood’
The Hindu
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman exposes DMK's misinformation on Katchatheevu issue, highlighting Congress and DMK collusion in ceding territory.
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on March 31 said Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK should stop its "misinformation" on the Katchatheevu issue.
On X, Ms. Sitharaman, referring to an RTI reply obtained from government authorities by Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on the Katchatheevu issue, said: “...What the RTI reply has revealed has been stated authoritatively by former CM Jayalalitha Amma in the TN state assembly itself.”
Mr. Annamalai said on X that a leading English daily published on Sunday a story based on the information received by him through RTI. "Congress & DMK colluded in the ceding of Katchatheevu by Sri Lanka. The Congress, whenever in power, had the least interest in securing our country’s border, territorial integrity & sovereignty," he alleged on X.
Ms. Sitharaman tagged a video clip — posted by an 'X' handle — which showed late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's reply to DMK legislator K Ponmudy in the Assembly years ago.
In the Assembly, Jayalalithaa had said (during 2011-16) that the DMK members had no locus standi to pose questions on Katchatheevu.
It was during the DMK regime, when M Karunanidhi was Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Katchatheevu island was ceded to Sri Lanka by the Union government.
"What Karunanidhi was doing when the Centre concluded pacts in 1974 and 1976 to cede the island to Sri Lanka?" she had asked.
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