MK Stalin counters PM over Katchatheevu row, ‘What steps have you taken?’

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his allegations against DMK in the Katchatheevu controversy, questioned whether the central government has taken any steps in the past ten years to reclaim the island from Sri Lanka.

MK Stalin counters Modi

PM Modi, on Sunday, alleged that the Congress government, under former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, "callously gave away" the strategic Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka and accused the party of "weakening" the country's integrity and interests. A day later, he said, new details "have unmasked DMK’s double standards totally" and claimed that MK Stalin’s party has done "NOTHING to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s interests”.

In response, the DMK chief questioned PM Modi and mentioned that he had demanded the Prime Minister to retrieve the island. He also asked whether PM Modi had made any demands in this regard when he visited the head of the Sri Lankan government.

"When the BJP came to power, what did it say in the SC regarding Katchatheevu? They said that we would have to engage in a battle with Sri Lanka if we wanted to get the island back. In the last ten years, how many times has Modi travelled to Sri Lanka? Did he ever demand from them that Katchatheevu should be returned to us? When he met the head of the state of Sri Lanka, did he tell them that Katchatheevu belongs to India? He didn’t mention Katchatheevu on all those occasions," Stalin said.

"The PM who remembers very clearly the events that occurred during the time of Nehru and Indira Gandhi, I want to ask him if he remembers something that happened just two years ago. When he came for an event in Chennai, I presented several demands, and one of the first demands I made was to retrieve Katchatheevu. Do you recall this? Did you even read the memorandum I gave?" the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister added.

He also stated that raking up the Katchatheevu issue has now backfired on the BJP. “This issue has turned against them. They put their hands on the beehive, and now they are trying to escape from it,” he mentioned.

Stalin also claimed that the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, when he was the foreign secretary, in an RTI reply in 2015 claimed Katchatheevu is not a part of India and the party is bringing up the matter due to election.

He also asked the Prime Minister who is “crying over Katchatheevu now” had ever said a word of condemnation against Sri Lanka for “harassing and attacking” fishermen from India.

Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accused DMK of spreading a false campaign on Katchatheevu and for making "irresponsible" statements on the issue. She said the late M Karunanidhi, who was DMK president and Tamil Nadu chief minister at the time in the 1970s, was aware of the then-ruling Congress's move but did not object, she said.

India Says Zelensky Wrote To PM Modi, Ukraine Seeks More Humanitarian Aid

Ukraine has also sought the participation of President Zelensky in the September G20 Summit under India's Presidency. There has been no word from India on the matter so far. 

                   India Says Zelensky Wrote To PM Modi, Ukraine Seeks More Humanitarian Aid 

New Delhi: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The letter was sent across by the Dy Foreign Minister Emine Dzapharova to Mos, MEA Meenakshi Lekhi. She also requested for additional humanitarian aid during her talks with Meenakshi Lekhi.

Ukraine has also sought the participation of President Zelensky in the September G20 Summit under India's Presidency. There has been no word from India on the matter so far.

Ukraine has requested additional humanitarian supplies, including medicines and medical equipment. Ms Lekhi tweeted that India had assured enhanced humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

The Ukraine Minister said the war-torn country would allow foreign medical students to take the Unified State Qualification Exam in their country of domicile, which is a huge relief for thousands of Indian students forced to leave Ukraine when war broke out.

Ukraine has also suggested that rebuilding infrastructure in the country could be an opportunity for Indian companies.

On Monday, the Ukrainian minister said Kyiv wanted New Delhi to be more involved in helping resolve its war with Russia and sought a visit by PM Modi and other top officials.

She also said that Ukraine is not in a position to instruct India on its economic relations with other countries, in an apparent reference to New Delhi's energy ties with Moscow.

Emine Dzhaparova's visit to India is the first from Ukraine after Russia began its invasion of the country last year.

The minister described India as a global leader and a 'Vishwaguru' which can play a role in addressing global challenges.

"I think India is a global player. It is really a 'Vishwaguru' of the world. We are feeling the pain by actually fighting for the values. This is about justice... Rusia is questioning the very existence of my country. In our history of 1,500 years, Ukraine never attacked any country," she said.

In his bilateral meeting with Putin in Uzbekistan on September 16 in the Uzbek city of Samarkand, PM Modi had said, "Today's era is not of war" - a comment that resonated with various world leaders and was widely praised.

Significantly, the Ukrainian minister said India should recognize the dangers of not stopping those who prefer to push their agenda with "impunity", apparently referring to Pakistan and China.

Emine Dzhaparova told a gathering of diplomats, former envoys and reporters that the events preceding the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine last year could serve as an example of how to handle "difficult neighbours".

"There is one message with which I have come to India. Ukraine really wants India and Ukraine to be closer. Yes, there is a history between us. But we want to start a new relationship with India," Ms Dzhaparova said.

"India also has a difficult neighbourhood with China and Pakistan. The Crimea episode has a lesson for India as well. Whenever impunity happens and if it is not stopped, it becomes bigger," she said.