Congress Leader Jairam Ramesh Hits Back at PM Modi Over Katchatheevu Island Issue
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh responds to PM Modi's remarks about the Katchatheevu island issue, accusing the BJP of diversionary tactics and highlighting the India-China border tensions.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh didn't hold back in his response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent comments regarding the decision to hand over the strategic Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974. In a fiery retort to PM Modi's accusation that "Congress callously gave away Katchatheevu," Ramesh brought up the land boundary agreement with Bangladesh from 2015, alleging that it led to the shrinking of India's land area by 10,051 acres.
Ramesh pointed out that while 17,161 acres of Indian territory were handed over, only 7,110 acres were received in return. He emphasized that the Congress Party supported the Bill in both Houses of Parliament and criticized PM Modi for making "juvenile allegations." It's clear that Ramesh was not mincing his words in this heated exchange.
Furthermore, Ramesh accused the Prime Minister of using the Katchatheevu issue as a pre-poll tactic, especially in light of the upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu. He suggested that PM Modi and the BJP were becoming desperate due to the prospect of zero seats in the state. Ramesh's sharp criticism didn't stop there.
He went on to allege that the RTI report revealing the handover of Katchatheevu island was a deliberate diversionary tactic by the BJP, orchestrated by Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai. Ramesh questioned the rapid response to this particular RTI query, insinuating that it received special treatment.
Not one to back down, Ramesh listed the "chronology" of events, accusing the BJP of "match-fixing" and suggesting that PM Modi amplified the issue after Annamalai's revelations. He also highlighted the human rights aspect of the 1974 decision, noting that it allowed for the repatriation of 6,00,000 Tamil people from Sri Lanka to India.
India-China Border Tensions
Ramesh didn't stop at the Katchatheevu issue; he also took a swipe at PM Modi over the India-China skirmishes that have occurred in recent years. He criticized the Prime Minister for allegedly giving "a clean chit" to China following the 2020 Galwan clash, despite reports of Chinese incursions onto Indian territory.
The Galwan clash, which resulted in the deaths of twenty Indian soldiers and an unspecified number of Chinese troops, intensified border tensions between the two nations. Ramesh's scathing remarks underscored his concern over the integrity of the nation and the alleged encroachment by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Indian territory.
It's evident that Jairam Ramesh didn't hold back in his response to PM Modi's comments, calling out what he perceived as diversionary tactics and highlighting contentious issues such as the Katchatheevu handover and border tensions with China. The political sparring between the Congress leader and the Prime Minister reflects the intensity of the ongoing debate surrounding these critical matters.
Hi, Ali Rahman in the house! From Chittagong, Bangladesh, I've been on a wild ride from Banskhali Bangabandhu High School to Govt. Alaol College and beyond, landing me at National University. Now, I'm here to dish out the lowdown on national issues and global news. Stick around for a fresh take on what's shaking up our world! Connect With Me