BJP bringing up Katchatheevu issue to divert attention from Centre's failure to secure T.N. fishermen's rights: TNCC chief
In a statement, Mr. Selvaperunthagai said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was trying to cover-up the actions of the Sri Lankan Navy against Tamil Nadu fishermen over the last 11 years of BJP rule at the Centre.
He also clarified that Katchatheevu was not ceded to Sri Lanka during Emergency. 'The External Affairs Minister has made factually incorrect statements. Emergency was not in effect when the agreement [to cede the island] was signed on June 26, 1974. On July 23, 1974, the then External Affairs Minister Swaran Singh tabled a report in the Lok Sabha and addressed Parliament. All political parties, including the BJP, participated and voiced their opinions,' he said.
'After the Congress government, did Prime Minister Vajpayee, during his six-year tenure, or Prime Minister Modi, during his 11-year rule, ever hold talks with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister about reclaiming Katchatheevu? If Katchatheevu was truly the root cause of the fishermen's problems, the Indian government should have raised this with Sri Lanka,' Mr. Selvaperunthagai added.
He said: 'Tamil Nadu fishermen are not arrested near Katchatheevu. Instead, they are arrested when they unintentionally cross the maritime boundary into Sri Lankan waters, especially during nighttime fishing. Therefore, the BJP government must hold talks with Sri Lanka to secure fishing rights in those waters based on the livelihoods of Tamil Nadu's fishermen.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
24 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Protest in Tamil Nadu against SC order on stray dogs
People came together to show their support for stray dogs in Chennai on Sunday in protest of the Supreme Court's order to remove stray dogs from public spaces in Delhi and NCR. A woman holds a dog as she and other animal lovers attend a protest rally, after India's top court last week ordered authorities in Delhi and its suburbs to relocate all stray dogs to shelters within eight weeks, in Chennai. (REUTERS) Protestors carried placards with slogans, 'Save our Indie Dogs', 'We are the Voice of the Voiceless', 'Killing is Not a Solution. Some even brought their adopted stray dogs to the streets of the city. The protests were headlined with a hashtag: SaveDelhiDogs2025. Tamil actor Vinodhini Vaidhyanathan said that sterilisation, vaccination and neutering was the solution. 'And the dogs should be let back in the same location and feeders like us will take care of the dogs. We believe that this problem can be solved in five years,' said Vaidhyanathan. 'Dogs with rabies can be kept in shelters. Similarly aggressive dogs can be given rehabilitation. We are not against that.' The top court on August 11 had ordered for all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to be picked up within eight weeks, directing that they be housed in dog shelters to be created by appropriate authorities. 'The Supreme Court's order is impractical and unjust,' the actor added. 'First of all there aren't enough shelters to house them all so they will die in terrible conditions.' She cited the example of how Goa controlled its dog population in the last two decades. Sai Vignesh, founder of Almighty Animal Care Trust said that the act of catching and permanently displacing dogs goes against India's own rules — Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. 'It clearly recommends animal birth control surgery and vaccination as the only way to eradicate rabies. It has been scientifically proven in cities like Goa and Jaipur which have been recorded as 100% rabies free,' the activist said. Popular Tamil director Vasanth (who goes by a first name) protested holding a placard, 'Their Streets, Their Freedom'. 'I'm not being a devil's advocate but a dog's advocate. This planet is not just for human beings but for all living beings,' said Vasanth. 'Yes, there are dogs that bite but that doesn't mean all dogs must be captured.' He added that data showed that there are more rapes and murders and road accidents than deaths due to dog bites. 'First, it is worrying to call them street dogs. We have treated them with compassion. Encapturing them in shelters is not a solution.'
Hindustan Times
24 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Himachal monsoon session likely to be stormy affair
In the rain battered Himachal Pradesh, the monsoon session, commencing on August 18, is likely to be a stormy affair with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expected to corner the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government over the handling of disaster, reintroducing the lottery system, and failing to deliver on development promises even after nearly three years in power. Most of the questions are related to the recent rain related incidents only. (HT Photo) Meanwhile, the Congress is planning to hit back with the issue of inadequate help from the Centre. For the monsoon session, the Vidhan Sabha has received 830 questions of which 679 are starred questions while 151 are unstarred questions. Most of the questions are related to the recent rain related incidents only. Leader of Opposition and former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said that disaster relief, lottery policy, and issues related to unemployment and youth protests will be key matters during the monsoon session of the assembly. BJP will be targeting the state government for the slow pace of disaster response in the state after recent floods and rains. After meeting of the BJP legislators in Shimla on Sunday evening, MLA Randhir Sharma, said that during the assembly session, the Congress government will be held accountable by the Opposition. 'The way the ruling party has been unjust to the people of the state, did not accept any demands of the employees, shut down institutions across the state or transferred already running institutions, adopted a highly negative attitude during the disaster, and registered false FIRs across the state will be taken up. Even false cases were filed against the BJP state president, BJP MLAs, and disaster-affected people,' he said. As per the state disaster management authority (SDMA), the state has recorded 261 deaths between June 20 and August 16, as the state witnessed 63 landslides, 74 flashfloods and 34 cloudbursts. The government will also be bringing in a resolution to once again appeal for special financial help from the central government. Even in 2023, the assembly had passed a resolution seeking ₹10,000 crore special relief aid from the Centre. Since then, the Congress has been accusing the BJP for not supporting the move. However, this time, the BJP delegation has met central leaders and urged for special relief package. The Congress is likely to corner the BJP over the area-specific disaster package demand. Government to bring bill against drug abuse The Himachal government is going to bring a bill against drug abuse, along with HP public examination (Prevention of unfair means) Bill, 2025, to check cheating in the exams. Also, amid the ongoing tussle between the state government and Raj Bhawan over the issue of appointments of vice-chancellor at two agriculture universities in the state, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (Nauni, Solan) and CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (Palampur), the government is likely to bring an amendment bill to withdraw the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry University (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The assembly, last year, had passed an amendment bill in the assembly regarding the appointment of VC's in both the universities, which was sent for the approval of the governor. The governor recently has sent the bill back with some objections, which has increased the conflict. The state government is likely to amend the bill in wake of the objections. Box: Security beefed up in wake of assembly session In wake of the Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly's monsoon Session, the district administration has divided the Vidhan Sabha and its surrounding area into 5 sectors and a sector officer has been appointed in each sector. Shimla district magistrate Anupam Kashyap gave these directions while presiding over a meeting with the sector officers of the administration and police department here on Sunday. 'The officers of the district administration and police department should keep a close watch to maintain law and order so that no kind of disorder arises during the session,' said Kashyap. Shimla senior superintendent of police Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi said that a comprehensive security plan has been prepared. He said that during the session, the police department will keep a close watch on every aspect in view of internal and external security. The security arrangements will be ensured in coordination with the CID.
Hindustan Times
24 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
BJP MLC opposes cow slaughter ban act, gau-rakshak activities
Mumbai: The aggression of cow vigilantes has exposed internal differences in the Mahayuti alliance's stance on the issue. Ruling MLC from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Sadabhau Khot has expressed his anger against banning the slaughter of cows, bulls, and bullocks, and said that the ban should be limited to Indian breeds. Earlier, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had met top police officers after which the police issued a circular saying that only they could take actions against illegal cattle transport. Sadabhau Khot of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana's of Madha candidate interact at Madha in by Uday Deolekar Sangli. (Uday Deolekar) The cow slaughter ban and activities of gau-rakshak's (cow protectors) have become a matter of dispute in the state. In the monsoon session of state legislature, the Mahayuti government led by the BJP cited complaints of beef smuggling and said that it would strengthen the law banning cow slaughter by enhancing the punishment for repeat offenders. In July, the Qureishi community, involved in cattle trade, protested the alleged harassment by the police and self-proclaimed gau rakshaks who not only seize vehicles but also attack the people involved in transporting cattle. After that, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar held a meeting with top police officials and following the meeting police issued a circular underlining that private individuals have no authority to inspect transport vehicles. Amid this, the BJP's own MLC Sadabhau Khot spoke up against the act banning the slaughter of cows, bulls and bullocks. Khot said, 'For farmers dairy is a secondary source of income and contributes to their financial ecosystem. Earlier farmers used to sell unproductive cows and bulls, but now with this act farmers can't do so as there are no buyers.' He added that farmers are now deprived of this extra income and have to take the extra burden of feeding unproductive cattle. Khot explained, 'For increasing milk production farmers used to import cows from other states like Rajasthan and Gujarat. They also used to sell or import bulls for milk production.' However, after attacks and raids from gau-rakshak groups, transporting cattle has become difficult and is affecting the economy of milk production. Khot alleged that many gau-rakshak have become extortionists. 'This cow slaughter ban act should be limited to Indian breeds of cows. There is no point in including hybrid-jersey cows in it,' said Khot. He explained that 90% of cows owned by farmers are jersey-hybrid cows and only 10% are an Indian breed. He also demanded that Gaushalas (cow sheds) should purchase the cows from farmers at market price instead of taking it free of cost. Khot said he could no longer keep quiet as he came from a farming background. Having lived amid farmers he said he could not ignore the grief and financial stress caused by cow slaughter laws. 'For the government, farmers are nothing but the slaves and slaves have no right to raise their voice,' said Khot. 'I live in Bharat, where the farmers live, and not in India which is far away from the problems faced by farmers,' he added.
