(UDHAYAM, COIMBATORE) – The Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK) in India on Wednesday (25) said it would hoist the National Flag on Kachchatheevu, ceded to Sri Lanka by India, on Republic Day today (26), if the Centre or Tamil Nadu Government failed to do so, The Press Trust of India reported.
In a memorandum submitted to the district collector in Tamil Nadu, IMK President, Arjun Sampath said that Tamil Nadu fishermen have the right to catch fish in Kachchatheevu area and also the right to worship at St Anthony Church there, as per an agreement between the two countries.
However, Sri Lanka was violating the agreement and not allowing Tamil Nadu fishermen there, he said.
Stating that the Centre or Tamil Nadu government should take steps to hoist the Tricolour tomorrow, he said that either the collector of Ramanathapuram District or senior officials in Indian Coast Guard can hoist the flag there.
If both are failing to hoist the flag, the HMK workers will go and hoist the flag, Arjun Sampath said.