Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President K. Annamalai on Wednesday, April 10, raised an objection to Congress leader Digvijaya Singh’s remarks on Katchatheevu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Accusing the Congress of having "no guilt" in compromising territorial integrity by handing over Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka, Coimbatore’s MP candidate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections demanded an unconditional apology from the Congress for putting the lives of Tamil Nadu fishermen at risk. Furthermore, Annamalai stated that the views of the Congress leaders only depicted their mindset on the Katchatheevu issue.
Annamalai posted a video of Digvijaya Singh on X (formerly Twitter) criticising PM Modi for raising the Katchatheevu issue. The Congress leader is seen addressing reporters in Delhi saying, "I want to ask if anybody is living on that island." Responding to Singh's statement, Annamalai wrote, "Congress leaders carry no guilt for having compromised our territorial integrity & for putting the lives of our Tamil fishermen at risk. 'Not a Blade of grass grows there' for Aksai Chin & 'who lives there' for Katchatheevu reflects Congress' mindset. Congress has to apologise unconditionally to our Tamil Fishermen for such insensitive statements & for the remarks made on our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl, who has been a pillar of strength to our fishing community."
Congress leaders carry no guilt for having compromised our territorial integrity & for putting the lives of our Tamil fishermen at risk.
“Not a Blade of grass grows there” for Aksai Chin & “who lives there” for Katchatheevu reflects Congress’ mindset.
Congress has to… pic.twitter.com/oWK9OLpSFK— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) April 10, 2024
Katchatheevu was ceded to Sri Lanka as per an agreement by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1974. The issue took centre stage when PM Modi raised it during the Lok Sabha elections campaign blaming the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for handing over Katchatheevu. Modi, once again on Wednesday, took up the Katchatheevu issue while attending two rallies in Tamil Nadu.