Produced by: Tarun Mishra
The disputed island of Katchatheevu, situated in the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka, has become a contentious issue ahead of the general election in Tamil Nadu.
Given to Sri Lanka by the Congress government in 1974, the island has sparked controversy, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently criticizing the decision as "callous." PM Modi on his X account said, "Eye-opening and startling! New facts reveal how Congress callously gave away Katchatheevu. This has angered every Indian and reaffirmed in people's minds - we can't ever trust Congress,"
PM Modi's remarks have intensified political tensions, particularly between the BJP and Congress, as both parties clash over the island's ownership and historical context.
PM Modi further emphasized, citing a Times of India report backed by an RTI reply from Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai, that weakening India's unity, integrity, and interests has been the Congress' modus operandi for 75 years. Later, during a rally in Meerut marking the launch of the BJP campaign in Uttar Pradesh, he connected this issue to the capture of Tamil fishermen and the confiscation of their boats by the Sri Lankan forces.
Katchatheevu, historically claimed by the Ramnad zamindari of Ramanathapuram, has been a point of contention since the British colonial era, exacerbated by fishing rights disputes post-Independence.
Photo: Wikipedia
The decision to cede Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka was part of the 1974 Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime agreement, aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations.
The island's significance lies in its impact on Tamil Nadu's fishermen, who face repercussions from Sri Lankan authorities when fishing in the area, leading to economic and social challenges.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and other leaders have raised concerns over escalating arrests and seizures of boats by the Sri Lankan navy, urging PM Modi to address the issue.
The BJP and Congress have traded barbs over Katchatheevu, with the DMK accusing PM Modi of spreading falsehoods and Congress defending the 1974 agreement as a diplomatic gesture akin to other friendly agreements in the region.