Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa asked why DMK had not taken any steps on the issue though it was part of various regimes at the Centre. (PTI photo)
In a blistering attack on DMK in the Assembly, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today accused the M Karunanidhi-led party of doing "nothing" to prevent the ceding of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka, as she vowed to make all legal efforts to retrieve the islet.
After DMK member K Ponmudi referred to Ms Jayalalithaa's 1991 assurance that Katchatheevu would be retrieved and sought to know the "action taken", a fierce debate ensued involving him, her and Leader of Opposition MK Stalin.
Claiming that DMK does not have any locus standi to speak on the issue, she said Katchatheevu, an islet in the Palk Straits, was ceded to Sri Lanka through agreements, in 1974 and 1976, with the neighbouring nation by the Centre while DMK president M Karunanidhi was the state's chief minister.
"What was he (Karunanidhi) doing then? Did he take any steps to prevent it or did he hold agitations?" Ms Jayalalithaa asked, as she maintained that there was no change in her stance that Katchatheevu should be retrieved.
"Yes I spoke of it (in 1991), conscious of the powers of a state government. I had said that I will take steps through the central government and had not said anything insane. I had not said that I would lead a battalion to retrieve Katchatheevu," Ms Jayalalithaa said.
Stating that she had consistently been making all efforts that could be made by a state government, Ms Jayalalithaa asked why DMK had not taken any steps on the issue though it was part of various regimes at the Centre.
Recalling that when DMK was in power both at the Centre as well as the state and when Mr Karunanidhi had even stated that the previous Manmohan Singh government was "steered" by his advice, she wondered why no action was taken to retrieve Katchatheevu, which is at the centre of the dispute over fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen in the Palk Strait.
Ms Jayalalithaa said why the DMK member was asking her on "what action was taken on Katchatheevu," when it had not done anything over it.
She likened the arch rival party to 'Rip Van Winkle', an easy-going character from a an English short story who goes on a slumber for 20 years, for "sleeping" over the issue and raising it now in the House.
She recalled how as the leader of opposition she had petitioned Supreme Court against ceding of Katchatheevu in 2008 and wanted to know why the then DMK government did not implead itself in the case, adding "is this the way to retrieve Katchatheevu?"
When the Supreme Court wanted the state government to file its counter-affidavit in 2008, Mr Karunanidhi, as chief minister, had said it would be considered after "seeing the stand of the Centre in court."
"After my party was voted to power in 2011, I took efforts to get Tamil Nadu government's Revenue Department impleaded in the case," she said.
"For sure, I will succeed in the petition, someday I will succeed in that petition (Katchatheevu), till then you all should do well and see it, it is my prayer to the Almighty," she said.
Ms Jayalalithaa said she took legal action on Katchatheevu ceding after making all other efforts, including persuading the Centre on the issue.
Her legal action was based on the Berubari case in which the Supreme Court had held that a Constitutional amendment was needed to cede territories.
The debate on Katchatheevu stretched for about an hour and witnessed noisy scenes involving DMK and AIADMK members over the issue.
"You cannot drown the truth by shouting, it is the DMK, and its chief Karunanidhi, who were responsible for ceding Katchatheevu. It is the DMK which is responsible for the travails of the fishermen," she said emphatically amidst noisy scenes and sought to know again why Mr Karunanidhi was silent when the islet was given away.
When Mr Ponmudi said the opposition and the government should work together on Katchatheevu, she asked, "In what respect should we work together? We have already taken action. You witness it without posing obstacles."
Defending DMK, Mr Stalin said Mr Karunanidhi had written to the then prime minister Indira Gandhi against ceding Katchatheevu.
He referred to an all-party meeting and agitations over the issue in 1974. He said the Assembly, too, had then expressed its "deep regret" over the issue and urged the Centre to reconsider its decision.
Ms Jayalalihtaa said 'agitations, letters to PM and all-party meetings' could go (work) only to some extent and she too did that and when there was no result, she moved the Supreme Court.
She said Mr Karunanidhi had claimed in a meeting of Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) in 2013 that before a pact was inked with Sri Lanka to cede Katchatheevu, it was due to his efforts that clauses related to rights for fishermen to fish and dry nets in Katchatheevu were incorporated.
However, in 1974, Mr Karunanidhi had expressed shock and claimed that he came to know of the ceding of the islet only through newspapers. "The Leader of the Opposition should clarify which (of the claims) is right," Ms Jayalalithaa said.
She also accused the DMK chief of remaining "non-committal" over taking legal steps, when it was pointed out to him that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as the leader of the then Jan Sangh, had said that he would move court over the issue.