File photo
New Delhi:
Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising the Katchatheevu island issue and challenged him to take back the island from Sri Lanka if he is “so concerned” about Tamil Nadu.
“Will he take back Katchatheevu if he is so concerned about Tamil Nadu? I challenge Prime Minister Modi. They have failed,” Tagore said while speaking to news agency ANI, hours after the Prime Minister’s ‘X’ post in Katchatheevu Island.
The senior Congress leader further assured that the Congress will raise its voice to take back the island from Sri Lanka if Tamil fishermen are attacked in Ramnad district.
“We are very clear that if our fishermen, our brothers in Ramnad district are attacked, we will raise our voice to take back Katchatheevu. But in 10 years, Prime Minister Modi has failed to do this,” Tagore said.
Claiming that the BJP had slim electoral chances in Tamil Nadu, Mr Tagore said: “Prime Minister Modi should stop such cheap tactics. He is rejected by Tamil Nadu. They will not get even one seat in Tamil Nadu. Annamalai won’t even come in. second place. He is vying for third place in Tamil Nadu.”
Mr Tagore alleged that the BJP in Tamil Nadu is using ‘diversion tactics’ as people are rejecting them in the state.
“The problem with BJP, RSS and Prime Minister Modi is that people are rejecting them in Tamil Nadu and they want a diversionary tactic,” the Congress leader said.
“Their discrimination against Tamil Nadu is well known. AIIMS Madurai has not even started, all the projects in Tamil Nadu have not even started. There is only the foundation stone, there is only one stone everywhere… For that they are working on raising this issue that had its origins in 1974,” he added.
Explaining the historical context of India giving away Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka, Mr Tagore said: “The government of India led by Indira Gandhi signed an agreement called the Indira Gandhi-Sirimavo Bandaranaike Agreement. At that time to save 6 lakh Tamils. … being residents of the ancient district of Ramnad, this Katchatheevu Island was given to the Sri Lankan government by the Government of India. It was done to save the Tamils.”
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