For this, they wanted the Centre to retrieve Katchatheevu, an island given to Lanka by the Indian government decades ago, to stop Lankan Navy from attacking Tamilnadu fishermen.

Not just members from opposition parties (D Jayakumar of AIADMK, G K Mani of PMK and V Sivapunniyam of CPI), but legislators from the ruling DMK’s longtime allies (C Gnanasekaran of Congress and Ravikumar of VCK), too spoke over the issue and urged the government to do something immediately to save the fishermen.

Replying, Karunanidhi said he was even afraid to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the issue, as some parties would refrain from participating in it.

In a sarcastic tone, he said, ‘I know that how our unity would be exposed if I called for an all-party meeting.’

Dismissing allegations from opposition members that the DMK favoured the Union government when it ‘gifted’ the island to Lanka, Karunanidhi said never had his party supported the decision of the Centre.

‘We had even walked out of Parliament opposing the Union government over the issue,’ he said.

On PMK legislator Mani’s demand to pass a resolution in the Assembly to press the Centre to retrieve Katchatheevu, Karunanidhi said, ‘Others will respect us only if we stand united. If Mani is ready to give me an assurance that all political parties will support such a resolution, I am ready to pass it in the Assembly.’

Ramadoss flays MK

Meanwhile, at a press conference at Thailapuram near Dindivanam today, PMK founder S Ramadoss said Karunanidhi had washed his hands of over the Katchatheevu issue.

‘Like how he failed to save Lankan Tamils, he is now not taking any steps to protect fishermen from our own State’, he said.