The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : ‘DMK opposed ceding of Katchatheevu’

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Friday, Jun 19, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

‘DMK opposed ceding of Katchatheevu’

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government was strongly opposed to the ceding of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka in 1974, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said on Thursday.

Yet, it was ceded to Sri Lanka. Even then, on the insistence of the DMK government, clauses that provided for fishing rights, permission to visit the islet on pilgrimage and drying of nets were included in the 1974 agreement. However, the clauses were removed during the Emergency when there was no popular government in the State. The State government had been pressing for the inclusion of the clauses with the Centre, Mr. Karunanidhi said, concluding the debate on a special call attention notice in the Assembly on the Katchatheevu issue. Explaining his party’s position, he said, “The DMK neither agreed with the decision of ceding Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka nor gave assent to it.” When a resolution was taken up in Parliament for adoption, his party had staged a walkout. “On many occasions, not just the DMK, the DMK government too did not hesitate to demand retrieval of Katchatheevu.

Referring to reactions of MLAs to reports of a lighthouse-type structure being built on the islet to monitor the movement of troops, he said if such a situation happened, the Centre should not remain a spectator.

Earlier, D. Jayakumar (AIADMK), said Katchatheevu was handed over when the DMK was in power.

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