'No ground' for Indian request for return of Kachchatheevu: Lanka Minister
Colombo (PTI): The statements coming out of India on "reclaiming" Kachchatheevu island from Sri Lanka have "no ground", the Sri Lankan Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda has said.
The senior Sri Lankan Tamil politician's comments came days after the Narendra Modi government targeted the Congress Party and its ally the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu accusing them of overlooking national interests in the ceding of Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974.
The BJP has also been targeting the two parties for not ensuring the rights of the fishermen wanting to fish in waters around the Katchatheevu island.
“It is the election time in India, it is not unusual to hear such noises of claims and counterclaims about Kachchatheevu," Devananda told reporters in Jaffna on Thursday.
“I think India is acting on its interests to secure this place to ensure Sri Lankan fishermen would not have any access to that area and that Sri Lanka should not claim any rights in that resourceful area”, Devananda said.
The statements on "reclaiming" Kachchatheevu from Sri Lanka’s hold has "no ground," Devananda has said.
The Sri Lankan minister said according to the 1974 agreement fishermen from both sides could do fishing in the territorial waters of both countries. But it was later reviewed and amended in 1976.
Accordingly, fishermen from both countries were banned from fishing in neighbouring waters.
Devananda stressed, “There claims to be a place called West Bank which is located below Kanyakumari - it is a much bigger area with extensive sea resources - it is 80 times bigger than Kachchatheevu, India secured it at the 1976 review agreement."
Devananda as the fisheries minister has faced pressure from the local fishermen in recent months.
The local fishermen have led widespread protests to stop illegal fishing by their Indian counterparts in the Sri Lankan waters. They say the bottom trawling by the Indians is harmful to Sri Lankan fishing community interests.
So far this year, at least 178 Indian fishermen and 23 trawlers have been arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy.
Devananda, an ex-Tamil militant who now leads the Eelam People’s Democratic Party, was named a proclaimed offender by a court in Chennai in 1994.
On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) steered clear of the row surrounding Katchatheevu island.
To a volley of questions on the Katchatheevu issue, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal referred to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's recent comments on the matter.
"I would like to tell you that on the issues that have been raised, the external affairs minister has spoken to the press here in Delhi and also in Gujarat clarifying all the issues," he said.
"I would refer that you please look at his press engagements. You will get your answers there," Jaiswal said in New Delhi.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Assam: Four dead in bus accident, 10 injured
Diphu (Assam) (PTI): At least four persons were killed and 10 others injured on Saturday when the bus in which they were travelling lost control and hit a roadside tree in Assam's Karbi Anglong district, officials said.
According to a senior official, the incident took place at Lakkhijan within Bokajan police station limits early morning when the bus was going to Dimapur in Nagaland from Moirabari in Morigaon district of central Assam.
"The bus apparently lost control when it was trying to cross a bend and hit a roadside tree. Four passengers lost their lives on the spot, including the driver," he added.
Police have reached the spot and sent the bodies for post-mortem examination.
"We have also sent 10 people, including a child, for treatment to a hospital in Dimapur," the official said.
The deceased have been identified as Abdul Barek, Khalil Rahman, Chabina Sultana and Alal Uddin.
