Fri Jan 24 06:43:18 UTC 2025: ## TN Congress Chief Defends Indira Gandhi’s Katchatheevu Decision Amidst BJP Criticism
**Chennai, January 24, 2025** – Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai defended his assertion that Indira Gandhi’s 1974 decision to cede Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka was a strategic maneuver. His statement comes in response to criticism from BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai, who claimed the decision resulted in the loss of fishermen’s lives.
Selvaperunthagai refuted Annamalai’s claims, stating that there’s no direct link between the Katchatheevu issue and the ongoing struggles of Tamil Nadu fishermen for fishing rights. He cited former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi’s Supreme Court testimony stating the impossibility of reclaiming Katchatheevu.
Accusing the BJP of exploiting the issue for political gain, Selvaperunthagai challenged Annamalai to explain the BJP government’s actions to prevent the arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prioritize talks with Sri Lanka to protect the fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen. The TNCC president maintains that the BJP’s criticism is politically motivated and lacks substance.
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