Page 8 - The Indian EYE 041924

NATION APRIL 19, 2024 | The Indian Eye 8

ELECTIONS 2024

With intense election battle on in Tamil

Nadu, parties squabble over a tiny island

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer on Chinese encroachment”:

Sharad Pawar over the Katchatheevu island row

OUR BUREAU on Thursday, Sharad Pawar said,
“Whenever PM makes any state-
New Delhi/Chennai
ment, how much dignity he maintains
xternal Affairs Minister S of his post? It raises doubts in people
Jaishankar on Wednesday like me.”
Eslammed the Dravida Mun- He slammed the BJP over its crit-
netra Kazhagam (DMK), saying the icism of Congress over the Katchath-
party was allegedly involved in the eevu island row and asked why no
Katchatheevu island issue from the one speaks on the land “infiltrated”
beginning. At an event in Bikaner, by China. “Just two days ago PM had
Rajasthan on Wednesday, EAM Jais- made a statement on a small island
hankar answered a question on the which has gone to Sri Lanka while In-
Katchatheevu island controversy. dira Gandhi was the PM in 1974...tak-
He said that the DMK is telling ing up this issue he has made strong
the people of Tamil Nadu that they allegations and comments against
have nothing to do in this matter and Congress,” Pawar said.
blaming the central government for “PM Modi should give an an-
it. “...We want to make the public un- swer to the question about China’s
derstand what DMK is telling in Tam- encroachment in some parts of India,
il Nadu is that they have nothing to do the issues which were also discussed
in this matter and blamed the central in parliament...what steps did he take
government,” Jaishankar said. about it...he doesn’t speak on it ever,”
“We are exposing the fact that he added.
the DMK was involved in it from the Meanwhile, responding to Con-
start,” he said, adding that the discus- gress leader Digvijay Singh remarks
sions were held behind closed doors “who lives there” on Katchatheevu
the then DMK chief minister agreed Island, Tamil Nadu BJP president K
to it. “The talks were happening be- Annamalai on Wednesday said that
hind closed doors, an agreement the Congress has no guilt over com-
happened and the then DMK chief promising territorial integrity and
minister agreed to it...The people putting the lives of our Tamil fisher-
should know that there are parties men at risk.
who say something in Parliament and In a post on X, Annamalai said,
decide something else behind closed “Congress leaders carry no guilt for
doors...,” Jaishankar added. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar speaks at an event (ANI Photo/Rahul Singh) having compromised our territorial
Further, he highlighted that the integrity and for putting the lives of
country’s first prime minister, Jawa- of words over the issue. The island, located between Ra- our Tamil fishermen at risk. “Not a
harlal Nehru said that nobody lives The decades-old territorial and meswaram in India and Sri Lanka, is Blade of grass grows there” for Aksai
in Aksai Chin, stressing that the Con- fishing rights dispute around Katcha- traditionally used by both Sri Lankan Chin & “who lives there” for Katcha-
gress has no attachment to India’s theevu Island is in the limelight ahead and Indian fishermen. In 1974, the theevu reflects Congress’ mindset.”
land. “Secondly...Pandit Nehru had of the general elections with the BJP then central government accepted Annamalai demanded an apol-
said nobody lives in Aksai Chin and and the opposition engaged in a war Katchatheevu as Sri Lankan territory ogy from the Congress for remarks
nothing grows in Aksai Chin...This is of words over the issue. under the “Indo-Sri Lankan Mari- made by former Madhya Pradesh
their (Congress) mentality about In- Earlier this month, Prime Minis- time Agreement.” Chief Minister Digvijay Singh. “Con-
dia’s land...They don’t have any attach- ter Narendra Modi targeted the Con- But, reacting over Bharatiya Ja- gress has to apologize uncondition-
ment to India’s land,” Jaishankar said. gress party and DMK over the Kat- nata Party’s criticism of Congress ally to our Tamil fishermen for such
The decades-old territorial and chatheevu island issue. He said that party over the Katchatheevu island insensitive statements and for the
fishing rights dispute around Katcha- Congress “callously” gave away the row, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) remarks made about our Prime Min-
theevu Island is in the limelight ahead island. He further alleged the ruling chief Sharad Pawar asked why no one ister Narendra Modi, who has been a
of the general elections with the BJP party of Tamil Nadu did “nothing” to speaks on the land “infiltrated” by pillar of strength to our fishing com-
and the opposition engaged in a war safeguard the state’s interests. China. Addressing a press conference munity,” he said.

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