"We established good diplomatic relationship with Sri Lanka..": Rajnath Singh slams Congress on Katchatheevu row

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], April 16 : Targeting Congress over the Katchatheevu island row, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh drew a comparison between the Congress and the BJP government at the Centre and said that his government established a good diplomatic relationship with Sri Lanka so that Indian fishermen do not face problems as comparison with the Congress regime 10 years ago.
The Defence Minister made these remarks while participating in the BJP National Language cell and interacting with community leaders in Chennai.
Addressing the longstanding Kachchatheevu Island issue, he said, "Everyone knows the Kachchatheevu Island issue...It was done by Congress, not us. But, so that our fishermen do not face any problems, we established a good diplomatic relationship with Sri Lanka. You know what the condition was 10 years ago."
The decades-old territorial and fishing rights dispute around Katchatheevu Island is in the limelight ahead of the general elections with the BJP and the opposition engaged in a war of words over the issue.The island, located between Rameswaram in India and Sri Lanka, is traditionally used by both Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen.In 1974, the then central government accepted Katchatheevu as Sri Lankan territory under the "Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime Agreement."
In his address, Singh also underscored India's remarkable growth and global recognition over the past decade, attributing the nation's progress to the Modi-led government's initiatives.
Singh also said that despite initial reluctance from China, Prime Minister Modi's persuasive efforts led to a breakthrough, ultimately resulting in China agreeing for the African Union to join the G20.
"China was not agreeing to give membership to African Union but our PM (Narendra Modi) made it happen and finally China, who was participating virtually also agreed," said Rajnath Singh during interaction with community leaders in Chennai.
Reflecting on India's economic strides, the Defence Minister pointed out that India has ascended from the 11th to the 5th position in global economic rankings within seven years.
"Even the international community is very surprised at the kind of growth that has happened in India in the past ten years. Now, the whole world recognises that if there is a fastest-growing economy, it is India's. Everyone accepts it. This achievement cannot be considered small. You know that in 2014, our India was ranked 11th in terms of the size of the economy in the world, and within seven years, it has jumped to the fifth position," he said.
He projected that India is poised to enter the top three economies globally by 2027, a forecast endorsed by international financial institutions.
Furthermore, the Defence Minister noted the enhanced respect India commands on the international stage, citing instances where previously Indian statements were overlooked at international forums, but now they are met with attentive ears.
"Earlier, when India had to say something at an international forum, its statements were not taken as seriously as they should have been. But today, when India speaks at an international forum, people listen attentively to what India is saying. This is the recognition that India has earned," he said.
He attributed this shift to India's rising stature, symbolising the recognition the country has garnered globally.
Singh also highlighted India's achievements in various sectors, particularly infrastructure and digital transformation. "If we look at any sector, there has been a miracle in the infrastructure sector. Now, when it comes to airports, previously, we only had 74 airports, and now we have 149 airports, which is unimaginable. If we talk about the digital transformation, it will take about fifteen minutes just to discuss it in detail. So, I won't go into detail about that," he added.
Turning to space exploration, Singh praised the success of Chandrayaan-3, lauding the dedication of Indian scientists. He recounted how the Prime Minister personally boosted morale following setbacks with Chandrayaan-2, leading to the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3's lander on the Moon's South Pole, a feat unmatched by any other nation.
"You know about the success of Chandrayaan-3... it is a major achievement of our country's scientists. When Chandrayaan-2 did not succeed, our scientists were very disappointed. The Prime Minister went in the morning and boosted their morale by patting them on the back, and you saw that our Chandrayaan-3 landed on the South Pole, and the lander landed successfully on the South Pole. India is the only country in the world that has succeeded in landing its lander on the South Pole of the Moon," Singh said.
Singh also reiterating India's pride in its accomplishments and the growing international recognition, affirming the country's commitment to continued progress and excellence on the global stage.