Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has called on Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK to cease what she termed as the dissemination of “misinformation” regarding the Katchatheevu issue. Sitharaman’s remarks come in response to a video clip shared by an unidentified user, highlighting former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s statements in the state Assembly years ago.
The video clip, shared under an anonymous handle, features Jayalalithaa’s response to DMK legislator K Ponmudy during her tenure as Chief Minister between 2011 and 2016. In the Assembly session, Jayalalithaa asserted that DMK members lacked the standing to raise queries about Katchatheevu, emphasizing that it was during the DMK regime, under the leadership of M Karunanidhi, that the Katchatheevu island was ceded to Sri Lanka by the Union government.
“What was Karunanidhi doing when the Centre signed pacts in 1974 and 1976 to relinquish control of the island?” Jayalalithaa reportedly questioned in the video.
Contrary to claims made by the DMK, Sitharaman alleges that Jayalalithaa did not advocate for the retrieval of Katchatheevu by “mobilizing troops” in 1991. Instead, she asserts that it was the DMK party that bears full responsibility for the challenges surrounding the Katchatheevu issue.
The Katchatheevu matter has long been a contentious issue in Tamil Nadu politics, with various parties trading accusations and making promises regarding its resolution. Sitharaman’s remarks add a new dimension to the ongoing debate, as political parties gear up for the upcoming elections in the state.