Rebutting the charge of Chief Minister Jayalalitha that the DMK government in 1974 did not protest against the ceding of Katchatheevu by India to Sri Lanka and that the DMK chief did nothing to prevent it, Leader of the Opposition Thalapathi M.K.Stalin said that on the other hand it was only her party the ADMK which did not sign the all party resolution against the move by the Centre.
Participating in the debate on motion of thanks for Governor’s address on Jun 20, DMK member K. Ponmudi said that the address did not contain any long term or short term development projects and referred to Jayalalitha swearing to retrieve Katchtheevu when she hoisted the national flag in the ramparts of Fort St George in 1991.
Intervening Jayalalitha said that the DMK had no locus standi to speak about the island and his leader ceded it during the DMK rule.
Responding to her, Ponmudi said that the DMK chief filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court and took many other steps. He said he referred to the issue to know the position of her pledge to retrieve the island.
Intervening Jayalalitha said that they were taking steps within the limits of State’s powers and filed the case in the apex court. Ponmudi said accordingly the DMK chief also took steps within the powers of the State.
At this point, Stalin intervened and said he wanted to register some points with evidences. When the issue arose Thalaivar Kalaignar wrote a letter to the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 6.1.1974 in which he had cited many evidences to show that Katchatheevu was an integral part of India and belonged to Tamil Nadu which could not be given up.
Afterwards the Prime Minister deputed the secretary of External Affairs department for consultations with Kalaignar; but ultimately in spite of the protest of Kalaignar the Centre using its powers ceded the island to Lanka. The notification was issued on 28.6.1974 and Kalaignar convened an all party meeting at the secretariat on 29.6.1974 in which a resolution was adopted. The then CM Kalaignar wrote a letter to the Prime Minister stating “On behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu and on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu, I am constrained to express our deep sense of disappointment over the recent Indo-Sri-Lanka agreement, according to which, Sri Lanka’s claim to Kachativu has been conceded by the Government of India, May I express the hope that you will take into consideration the unanimous decision contained in the Resolution and take appropriate action?”
Following this on 23.7.1994 the then DMK member of the Lok Sabha Era Chezhiyan spoke in the House saying that the DMK would not accept the deal with Lanka. In the Rajya Sabha also DMK member S.S.Marisamy said the pact with Lanka was anti-democratic. The then External Affairs Minister Swaran Singh was also not in agreement with the pact.
On 24.7.1974 an agitation against the Katcatheevu agreement was conducted all over the State by the DMK. On 21.8.1974 a resolution was adopted in the Assembly registering its protest against the decision of the Centre, Stalin said.
Following this DMK member Ponmudi spoke on various issues. But the Speaker ruled that most of his speech was charges and expunged them. This was loudly protested by DMK members.
Participating in the debate on motion of thanks for Governor’s address on Jun 20, DMK member K. Ponmudi said that the address did not contain any long term or short term development projects and referred to Jayalalitha swearing to retrieve Katchtheevu when she hoisted the national flag in the ramparts of Fort St George in 1991.
Intervening Jayalalitha said that the DMK had no locus standi to speak about the island and his leader ceded it during the DMK rule.
Responding to her, Ponmudi said that the DMK chief filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court and took many other steps. He said he referred to the issue to know the position of her pledge to retrieve the island.
Intervening Jayalalitha said that they were taking steps within the limits of State’s powers and filed the case in the apex court. Ponmudi said accordingly the DMK chief also took steps within the powers of the State.
At this point, Stalin intervened and said he wanted to register some points with evidences. When the issue arose Thalaivar Kalaignar wrote a letter to the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 6.1.1974 in which he had cited many evidences to show that Katchatheevu was an integral part of India and belonged to Tamil Nadu which could not be given up.
Afterwards the Prime Minister deputed the secretary of External Affairs department for consultations with Kalaignar; but ultimately in spite of the protest of Kalaignar the Centre using its powers ceded the island to Lanka. The notification was issued on 28.6.1974 and Kalaignar convened an all party meeting at the secretariat on 29.6.1974 in which a resolution was adopted. The then CM Kalaignar wrote a letter to the Prime Minister stating “On behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu and on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu, I am constrained to express our deep sense of disappointment over the recent Indo-Sri-Lanka agreement, according to which, Sri Lanka’s claim to Kachativu has been conceded by the Government of India, May I express the hope that you will take into consideration the unanimous decision contained in the Resolution and take appropriate action?”
Following this on 23.7.1994 the then DMK member of the Lok Sabha Era Chezhiyan spoke in the House saying that the DMK would not accept the deal with Lanka. In the Rajya Sabha also DMK member S.S.Marisamy said the pact with Lanka was anti-democratic. The then External Affairs Minister Swaran Singh was also not in agreement with the pact.
On 24.7.1974 an agitation against the Katcatheevu agreement was conducted all over the State by the DMK. On 21.8.1974 a resolution was adopted in the Assembly registering its protest against the decision of the Centre, Stalin said.
Following this DMK member Ponmudi spoke on various issues. But the Speaker ruled that most of his speech was charges and expunged them. This was loudly protested by DMK members.
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