Jayalalithaa asks DMK to clarify stand on Katchatheevu

Cheni, June 20: Tamil du Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Monday asked DMK leader M.K. Stalin to clarify his party’s stand with regard to ceding of Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka. Her response came after Stalin, Leader of Opposition in the Tamil du assembly, said the central government did not consult the Tamil du government in 1974 while transferring Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. “By passing a resolution in the assembly, the then DMK government headed by (Stalin’s father) M. Karunidhi closed the discussion on the transfer,” Jayalalithaa said.

She said that while speaking on the resolution moved at that time, Karunidhi told the assembly that there was no hint or information to the Tamil du government from the central government about the transfer of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. Jayalalithaa said a Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation resolution moved in 2013 said the DMK government had opposed the transfer of Katchatheevu at the very first instance.  (IANS)