Tamil Nadu BJP President, K. Annamalai, has charged that the Congress and DMK colluded to cede the Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka.
Turning the tables on the INDIA block over the arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, Annamalai said on ‘X’ that he had received documents as per his RTI application on the Katchatheevu issue and found how callously the Congress party had allowed a portion of ‘Bharat’ to be taken away by Sri Lanka.
The BJP leader said that the first Prime Minister of the country, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, had on May 10, 1961, dismissed the issue as inconsequential and added that he had no hesitation in giving up claims to the island.
Annamalai said that as per the documents available, Nehru had then written, “I would have no hesitation in giving up our claims to it. I do not like this pending indefinitely and being raised again in parliament.”
The BJP leader stated that a highly respected legal brain of India, then attorney general, C.S. Setalvad, had in 1960 said that India had a stronger claim on the island and had claimed that the East India Company had given the zamindari rights of the island to Raja of Ramnad (Ramanathapuram).
Annamalai also said that the then Joint Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs (Law and Treaties) Krishna Rao had also concluded that India had a good legal case and could be argued with considerable force.
He said that the then opposition had chided the government of India for not standing up to the statements of then Ceylon PM DS Senanayake in their parliament, and of local functionaries that Katchatheevu was their part.
The BJP leader said that after the foreign secretary-level talks in 1973 in Colombo, the decision to relinquish India’s claims was conveyed to then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi by the Indian foreign secretary Kewal Singh in June 1974. Annamalai said that as per the records, Karunanidhi had also given concurrence.
The BJP leader said that there was a clause in the agreement that the Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu could use Katchatheevu and that they could dry their nets there. This, according to Annamalai, was to prevent any uprising by fishermen's community but he added that after a year this article was revoked.
He said that the Congress and DMK colluded to give away the piece of land to Sri Lanka without even taking any measures to prevent losing it.
Manipur Police arrest 11 militants, recover large cache of arms, ammunition
The Manipur Police arrested 11 militants belonging to various banned outfits and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition during the past 24 hours, officials said here on Friday.
PM Modi unveils 21-point action plan at 6th BIMSTEC Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday presented a comprehensive 21-point action plan during the sixth BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, laying out an ambitious road map for cooperation across diverse sectors.
ED raids multiple premises of 'Empuraan' producer Gokulam Gopalan
Amid the controversy surrounding Malayalam film ‘Empuraan’ starring superstar Mohanlal, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted raids at multiple premises linked to film’s producer Gokulam Gopalan.
SC declines PIL seeking restriction of social media platforms for kids below 13 years
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking urgent judicial intervention to regulate access to social media platforms for children below 13 years of age.
BIMSTEC Summit: PM Modi, Yunus meet amid strained ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a bilateral meeting with Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor of Bangladeshi interim government, on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.
Rupee strengthens against dollar amid Trump's reciprocal tariffs
The Indian rupee witnessed sharp gains on Friday at below 85 against dollar, as the dollar index and oil prices dropped sharply amid concerns over recession in the US economy after the reciprocal tariffs were announced.
Quad to send $20 million relief support to earthquake-ravaged Myanmar
Quad members Australia, India, Japan, and the United States on Friday collectively committed over $20 million in humanitarian assistance to support the relief efforts for the earthquake-devastated Myanmar.
'Waqf Bill will benefit Muslims, no threat to religious sites,' says Shahabuddin Razvi
Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi, the National President of All India Muslim Jamaat, expressed his support for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, stating that it would significantly benefit Muslims and ensure the betterment of their socio-economic conditions.