News Brief
"Can't Ever Trust Congress": PM Modi Over Indira Gandhi Ceding Katchatheevu Island To Sri Lanka
PM Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has criticised the Congress party for allegedly giving away the Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in the 1970s, describing it as a "callous" act as per a report by Hindustan Times.
Sharing a news article detailing the events leading to Sri Lanka taking over the island, PM Modi expressed his dismay on social media, stating that this revelation has angered every Indian and reinforced the belief that the Congress cannot be trusted.
Accusing the Congress of weakening India's unity, integrity, and interests, PM Modi stated that this has been the party's modus operandi for the past 75 years.
"Eye opening and startling! New facts reveal how Congress callously gave away Katchatheevu. This has angered every Indian and reaffirmed in people’s minds- we can’t ever trust Congress!", he wrote on X.
The article suggests that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru dismissed the issue of Katchatheevu as inconsequential, and despite staunch opposition from the opposition parties, the decision to cede the island was made.
PM Modi had previously mentioned in Parliament that the Indira Gandhi government had given Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka in 1974, accusing the Congress of dividing India for political gains.
The island, located between Rameswaram (India) and Sri Lanka, was traditionally used by both Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen. However, in 1974, under the leadership of Indira Gandhi, India accepted Katchatheevu as Sri Lankan territory.
PM Modi reiterated this issue during a recent rally in Tamil Nadu, where he highlighted the challenges faced by Tamil Nadu fishermen due to the decision made by the Congress government.
In response, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin accused the Prime Minister of lying during his rally in Kanyakumari on 15 March, stating that the Katchatheevu island was ceded to Sri Lanka despite the strong opposition of the DMK government.
Stalin emphasised that a state government cannot unilaterally cede a part of the country to another country.
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