Nation Wants To Know/ DMK Was Party to Decision on Katchatheevu, S Jaishankar Tells Republic | Exclusive

New Delhi: Asserting that a “very clever political narrative has been constructed over many, many years suggesting that DMK is fighting for people who've h grievances”, Union Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar during an exclusive conversation with Republic TV's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami on Monday underlined that it looks “as though Centre is culpable party”, but what "record actually shows is that DMK was very much party to decision(s)" me on Katchaevu island. 

minister's remarks come in backdrop of a recent media report suggesting that Indira Gandhi's government gave away Katchaevu island to Sri Lanka.

“Having done that, now you [ DMK leers] are posing before country that you h nothing to do with it”, EAM quipped in rar stinging remarks during explosive ‘Nation Wants To Know’ interview.

Responding to a question on Katchaevu matter being raised during elections, Jaishankar said DMK has no business posing as champion of fishermen’s interest. 

“We have h – for last many deces – challenges and problems faced by Indian fishermen... Now, you h DMK posing as champions of Tamil fishermen, saying y are in difficulties today because central government took decisions which put m at a disvantage”, Jaishankar told Arnab during biggest and his most politically-loed pre-election interview yet.

According to report, which is based on an RTI reply obtained by Tamil Nu BJP chief K Annamalai, n Indira Gandhi government at Centre in 1974 h handed over 1.9 square km island located at Palk Strait, 20 km from Indian shore, to Sri Lanka.

minister underlined that important issue to focus on right now [when India is going to polls] is [to ascertain]: “Which party was honest and which isn't, which party is responsible for situation that Indian fishermen are now finding mselves in”.

Centre and Opposition have been engaged in a war of words over matter with BJP leers seeking an explanation from DMK and Congress about "ceding" Katchaevu to Sri Lanka and "coming clean" on issue, and Opposition leers, on or hand, alleging that raising a "sensitive" issue like this ahe of elections shows BJP's "desperation".

Questioning why PM Modi “did not take steps to get Katchaevu back during his 10-year rule”, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that island was given to Sri Lanka as part of a “friendly agreement in 1974”, even as he ded, “Modi government too h undertaken a similar friendly gesture towards Banglesh in exchange for border enclaves”.

Furrmore, EAM strongly rebuked opposition parties, including DMK for saying one thing and doing anor. “ real issue is: since Day 1 y [DMK leers] h mastered this practice of saying something in Parliament...this of politics cannot be encouraged", he said.

Stressing that it's “important for people to know” that DMK hasn't been completely honest on Katchaevu matter, Jaishankar told Republic, “Considering how much of an issue y me out of it, Chief Minister Stalin has himself written to me 21 times, raising issues of Tamil Nu fishermen… I think it was time that public learnt: Who's responsible for it? who was culpable? Who did it and who went along with that?"

minister furr drew attention to BJP-led government's stance on issue, and underlined measures taken by Modi government on matter. “PM Modi has himself repeatedly taken up fishermen's issue with successive presidents and prime ministers of Sri Lanka over years”, EAM highlighted.

Nirmala Sitharaman and Anurag Thakur are among several or union ministers who've accused ruling DMK in Tamil Nu of spreing a false campaign on Katchaevu, and for making "irresponsible" statements on issue.

Last month, Sitharaman h said n DMK president and TN Chief Minister M Karunanidhi was aware of ruling Congress's move but “did not object”.