Jayalalithaa flayed the Sri Lankan govt's move to declare Kachchativu as a 'sacred area', saying it belonged to India
AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa on Sunday flayed the Sri Lankan government's move to declare Kachchativu, an islet ceded to it by India in 1974, as a 'sacred area', saying it belonged to India and demanded its retrieval.
Kachchativu, situated in the Palk Straits between Sri Lanka and India, has been in the limelight in recent past as fishermen from Tamil Nadu at times are attacked allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy, causing casualties which has led to protests by political parties in Tamil Nadu.
In a release here, Jayalalithaa recalled the statement of Sri Lankan minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development, Dinesh Gunawardena on the island government's proposal on March 20 and said "I strongly condemn it."
"Kachchativu Island is to be announced as a sacred area by Government," Gunawardena had told Sri Lankan Parliament.
His reply came in response to a query on the Indian Supreme Court issuing notice to the Centre on January 5, this year on a petition by Jayalalithaa seeking declaring as null and void India ceding Kachchativu to Lanka more than three decades ago on the ground that it was done without Parliament's approval.
Jayalalithaa also flayed Centre and Tamil Nadu government for "remaining silent" on Sri Lanka's latest proposal.
Kachachativu was ceded to Lanka in 1974 when DMK was ruling in Tamil Nadu, she said alleging that fishermen suffered due to it as they were not allowed to fish in the area.
As chief minister during 1991-96 and 2001-06, she had repeatedly taken up with the Centre the issue of retrieval of Kachchativu but no action was taken, Jayalalithaa said.
Jayalalithaa also recalled her petition to the Supreme Court contending that the ceding of the islet had resulted in Indian fishermen getting killed or injured at the hands of Sri Lankan Navy personnel at the Palk Bay.
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