The debate over Katchatheevu island is taking a new political turn everyday. The Congress has now responded to the criticism received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who slammed the Opposition party and the DMK over the Katchatheevu island dispute. The criticism came quickly after an RTI report revealed that the island was transferred to Sri Lanka in 1974 during the tenure of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Modi described the disclosure as “revealing and shocking,” alleging that the Congress compromised on national interests and integrity.
In response, the Congress has brought up the issue of Chinese occupation of Indian territory to counter the BJP’s claims. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge mentioned that China had released a new list of names for places in Arunachal Pradesh. “When China does something provocative, PM Narendra Modi tries to distract by talking about Katchatheevu,” he said.
The controversy clearly highlights rising tensions and political discussions regarding territorial actions that were made many years ago. Let’s delve deeper into the details of this contentious issue.
Katchatheevu Island: What is the dispute all about?
The Katchatheevu Island controversy is about a disagreement between India and Sri Lanka over who owns and controls the island. India gave Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka in 1974 through a bilateral agreement which was made during Indira Gandhi’s tenure as the Prime Minister. This decision led to protests, especially from fishermen and political groups in Tamil Nadu.
The fishermen claimed that the agreement took away their usual fishing areas and rights. The fishermen, mainly from Tamil Nadu, have faced various problems while fishing in their usual spots near Katchatheevu because Sri Lanka controls it. This has resulted in many fishermen getting arrested, or in some cases, their boats were also taken away.
Even though there have been protests and legal fights in India, like petitions to get back Katchatheevu, the Indian Supreme Court has said that the agreement made in 1974 is still valid. This means that Sri Lanka has the right to control the island.
Many political parties in India, especially the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have repeatedly blamed the Congress party for giving away Katchatheevu as they claim that it has harmed the country’s interests. The Katchatheevu matter has come up many times in talks between India and Sri Lanka. Both countries have tried to come up with a solution through diplomatic talks but there has been no solution to the problems faced by the local fishermen.
The Katchatheevu Island debate continues to be a hot topic, showing bigger arguments about who owns the land, the relationship between India and Sri Lanka, and the rights of fishermen there.
Political Debate
PM Modi’s criticism of the opposition adds to the controversy ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. The PM recently referred to a report stating that the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi, had agreed to the agreement, despite the DMK’s public opposition.
“Rhetoric aside, DMK has done nothing to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s interests. New details emerging on Katchatheevu have unmasked the DMK’s double standards totally,” PM Modi said in a post on X, citing a Times of India report.
Following PM Modi’s remarks, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said that India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, wanted to give away the island to Sri Lanka.
The issue came up again after a media report came out based on an RTI reply to a question filed by Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai. The reply showed that the former Prime Minister, the late Indira Gandhi, gave the island to Sri Lanka in 1974.
“Shocking and eye-opening! New information reveals how the Congress carelessly gave away Katchatheevu. This has angered every Indian and reinforced the idea that we can’t trust Congress,” PM Modi posted on X, on March 31, citing another report on the RTI response.
