TN Cong chief suggests taking Katchatheevu on lease from Lanka

In a bid to protect the interests of Indian fishermen, a Tamil Nadu Congress leader today suggested taking Katchatheevu on lease from Sri Lanka, if the legal process posed impediments in retrieval of the islet in Palk Straits.
"International agreements are involved [between India and Sri Lanka]. The legal battle may be long drawn. In such a situation, taking Katchatheevu on lease may be considered. This is only a suggestion," Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President B S Gnanadesikan said here today.
On implementing the controversial Sethusamudram project, he said the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had not gone back on it.

"Even in the Supreme Court, the Centre in its affidavit has said that the Sethu project should be implemented in the original route as was planned before," he said.