Kanimozhi accuses Centre of using Katchatheevu as ‘election strategy’

DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi accused the ruling government of using Katchatheevu as an “election strategy” and claimed that the Centre raised the issue of the island in response to opposition’s focus on the Sino-Indian border issue.

Kanimozhi, who is contesting as the DMK candidate from the Thoothukudi Parliamentary constituency in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on April 19, expressed confidence in winning the polls. She stated, “There is definitely a chance of success in Thoothukudi. All these years, whenever the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) raised questions without answering, Kachchatheevu came to mind only when the opposition pointed to the Sino-Indian border issue during the elections.”

The longstanding territorial and fishing rights dispute over Katchatheevu Island has come to the forefront ahead of the general elections, with both the BJP and the opposition engaging in debates over the issue. The island, situated between Rameswaram in India and Sri Lanka, has been traditionally utilized by fishermen from both countries. In 1974, the Indian government accepted Katchatheevu as Sri Lankan territory under the “Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime Agreement.”

Furthermore, the voting for all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu is scheduled to take place in the first phase of the general elections on April 19. In the 2019 general elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Congress, VCK, MDMK, CPI, CPI(M), IUML, MMK, KMDK, TVK, and AIFB, secured a massive victory by winning 38 out of 39 seats in the state.

The Lok Sabha elections for 543 seats across the country will be conducted in seven phases, commencing on April 19.