Katchatheevu Island Issue Surfaces as BJP Targets Congress Over Indira Gandhi’s Decision; Here’s Why the Uproar
New Delhi, April 1st, 2024: The Katchatheevu Island issue has resurfaced with Prime Minister Modi targeting the Congress over its historical decision. PM Modi labeled a recent report as “eye-opening and startling,” exposing how the Congress under Indira Gandhi’s government ceded Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. This revelation has stirred widespread anger and resentment among Indians, questioning Congress’s credibility. The BJP aims to capitalize on this issue to strengthen its presence in southern politics, even implicating the DMK.
Located on the southern coast of the Indian Ocean between Rameswaram and Sri Lanka, Katchatheevu Island spans 285 acres. Once under India’s jurisdiction, it became a bone of contention between India and Sri Lanka. In 1974, attempts to resolve the dispute led to bilateral meetings where India, despite asserting its claim with historical evidence, eventually relinquished the island to Sri Lanka as a goodwill gesture, under the Indira Gandhi government.
Before its transfer, an agreement was reached allowing Indian fishermen access to dry their nets on the island without requiring a visa. This issue has been a recurrent theme in Tamil Nadu politics and has even reached the Supreme Court.
Indian fishermen frequently cross into Sri Lankan waters, leading to arrests and boat seizures by Sri Lankan authorities, causing distress among the fishing community.
