Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], April 2 (ANI): AIADMK National Spokesperson Kovai Sathyan on Wednesday called Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin's urging the Centre to retrieve Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka 'election drama'. However, Sathyan said that his party would support any effort to retrieve the island from Sri Lanka.

'This is yet another election drama. MK Stalin doesn't understand anything about governance... What was he doing when they (DMK) were an ally with Congress and shared power for 16 years at the centre?' Sathyan told ANI.

'Which merit will a bill in the Tamil Nadu Assembly have?... However, if there are any efforts of retrieval, then we support that effort,' he added.

Earlier in the day, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution calling for the retrieval of Katchatheevu island, with unanimous support from all parties present.

The resolution was announced by Speaker Appavu, signaling broad bipartisan agreement on the issue.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin addressed the opposition, particularly Leader of Opposition Edappadi Palaniswami, who had earlier criticised the DMK for not raising the Katchatheevu issue during their tenure in power. Stalin rejected the opposition's criticisms, stating, 'We can talk about this resolution now, please don't talk about and create old politics today.'

He further questioned the AIADMK's stance on the matter, saying, 'For the past 10 years when your (AIADMK) government was in power, what were you doing? Did you talk about this Katchatheevu issue? Even recently, you have gone to Delhi, but have you spoken about this matter?'

The Tamil Nadu CM also raised the issue of fishermen from the state being arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy when they ventured near the island waters.

'Fishermen come under attack, and boats are seized. Union Minister for External Affairs Jaishankar said in March that 97 fishermen are still in prison. In 2024 alone, more than 500 fishermen were arrested, which translates to two arrests per day, and are punished with maximum prison time or maximum fine. Union Government should stop this and create a permanent solution for it. On behalf of the Tamil Nadu Government, I have written 74 letters addressing PM Modi and EAM. Every time I meet with the PM, I raise the issue. I once again emphasise that retrieving the Katchatheevu is the only solution. It has become a habit for certain political parties to make it look like the State gave Katchatheevu island. But the Union Government also speaking in the same manner is not acceptable. Union Government should amend the agreement with Srilanka, favouring our TN fishermen,' he said.

Earlier in his speech delivered in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Leader of Opposition Edappadi Palaniswami sharply criticised the DMK over its handling of the Katchatheevu island issue, accusing the party of neglecting the matter during its time in power at both the state and central levels.

Palaniswami traced the historical context of the island's transfer to Sri Lanka, stating, 'Katchatheevu was with Ramanathapuram Samasthanam until 1948. When Congress was in power, the island was given to Sri Lanka in 1974 while DMK was in power in Tamil Nadu.' He emphasised the ongoing plight of Tamil fishermen, saying, 'Our fishermen are in danger' (ANI)