The BJP on Sunday urged the Centre to revisit the position it had taken on the Katchatheevu issue in the Madras High Court, indicating that it might be veering to the stand other parties in Tamil Nadu have taken on the matter.
Only recently did Chief Minister Jayalalithaa write to the Prime Minister, seeking a revised affidavit. The Centre last week took the position that the issue was a “settled matter.”
Speaking to reporters here, BJP national general secretary P. Muralidhar Rao said the affidavit filed could have been the one formulated by the UPA government. To ensure continuity in the policy, it might have been filed without change. However, the BJP wanted the Centre to revisit the question of India’s sovereignty over the islet.
The party and the government “are fully committed to the welfare of Tamil Nadu fishermen and their rights. Hectic talks are on to solve various issues, not just the question of Katchatheevu alone,” he pointed out.
Mr. Rao criticised the former Union Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, for “messing up” the economy. In fact, he said, the fiscal deficit figure for 2013-2014 was suspect.
Meeting of secretariesEarlier, Union Minister Pon. Radhakrishnan addressed a meeting of district secretaries and other office-bearers, the first since the Lok Sabha polls. Sources in the party said the district secretaries presented a report.
While those from Coimbatore flagged infighting as a reason for the defeat of the party candidate, C.P. Radhakrishnan, a few highlighted the lack of cooperation among the alliance partners as a major issue.
