00:00 Amid a political storm in India over the status of Kachathevu Island, Sri Lanka's Minister
00:08 of Fisheries, Douglas Devananda, dismisses claims of reclaiming the island as having
00:14 no basis.
00:16 The controversy fuelled by India's upcoming general elections sees the ruling BJP accusing
00:22 the Congress of sending Kachathevu to Sri Lanka.
00:26 Douglas Devananda says, "These claims of reclaiming Kachathevu have no ground.
00:34 It's merely political rhetoric during election time."
00:38 Devananda suggests that India's interest in the island lies in controlling access to its
00:43 resources rather than any territorial dispute.
00:47 He also points to the existence of the West Bank, a larger area with abundant sea resources
00:53 secured by India in a 1976 agreement.
00:58 Located below Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, the West Bank is 80 times larger than Kachathevu.
01:05 The political spat extends to Tamil Nadu's political landscape, with the BJP accusing
01:10 Congress-allied DMK of negligence over Kachathevu.
01:15 India's External Affairs Minister S.J. Shankar highlights the 1974 pact allowing Indian fishermen
01:21 access to Kachathevu, later revoked in a 1976 agreement.
01:27 As political tensions simmer, the fate of Kachathevu remains at the centre of a heated
01:34 debate, with implications reaching far beyond the election campaign now.
01:39 For more information on the latest developments in the Kachathevu issue, please visit our
01:46 website at www.indiannews.org.
01:48 For more information on the latest developments in the Kachathevu issue, please visit our
01:53 website at www.indiannews.org.
01:55 Subscribe to One India Channel and never miss an update.
01:58 [MUSIC PLAYING]
Comments