Congress 'callously' gave away Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka: PM Modi replies to RTI finding

In August 2023, during his reply to a debate on a no-confidence motion, PM Modi blamed the Congress for the partition of India, and said it was the Indira Gandhi government which gave the Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka in 1974.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hit out at the Congress over its decision to hand over the disputed Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka, accusing the party of "weakening" the country's integrity and interests.

The Prime Minister's response came after a Right To Information (RTI) application report, which was subsequently carried by The Times of India, revealed how the Congress government led by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi handed over Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974.

The findings were obtained through an RTI application by Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai.

What does the report say?

According to the TOI report, the documents show that Sri Lanka is making up for its small size by pursuing the 1.9 square kilometer of territory around 20 km from the Indian beach with tenacity. This is based on claims that New Delhi disputed for decades before finally giving in to. Soon after independence, Ceylon, then known as Sri Lanka, asserted that the Indian Navy, then known as the Royal Indian Navy, could not hold exercises on the island without its consent. The island hosted an exercise by the Ceylon Air Force in October of 1955.

Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, consistently pressed its claim on the island located 20km off the Indian shore. Despite initial challenges from India, Sri Lanka's determined stance stands in contrast to India's indecisiveness.

PM Modi's initial reactions

"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! Weakening India’s unity, integrity and interests has been Congress’ way of working for 75 years and counting," PM Modi wrote on X.

BJP's Sudhanshu Trivedi reacts

Reacting to the RTI reply,  BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said: "On the issue of Katchatheevu, I would like to remind the entire nation that it belonged to India till 1975 and it is just 25 km from the Indian coast in Tamil Nadu. Earlier Indian fishermen used to go there but during the reign of Indira Gandhi, the then government handed it over to Sri Lanka… In that agreement, it was also said that no Indian fisherman could go there. Because of this, many fishermen have been caught and lodged in jail and faced atrocities. Neither DMK raises this issue nor Congress raises this issue..."

When PM Modi raised the Katchatheevu issue in the past

In August 2023, during his reply to a debate on a no-confidence motion, PM Modi  blamed the Congress for the partition of India, and  said it was the Indira Gandhi government which gave the Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka in 1974.

"The island, located between Rameswaram (India) and Sri Lanka, was traditionally used by both Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen. In 1974, then prime minister Indira Gandhi accepted Katchatheevu as Sri Lankan territory under the 'Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime agreement', said the Prime Minister.

PM Modi in his speech also mentioned that the DMK government in Tamil Nadu keeps writing to him urging to bring Katchatheevu back to India.

Why Katchatheevu plays a pivotal role in Tamil Politics

Situated in the heart of the Palk Strait, Katchatheevu has long been a focal point in Tamil Nadu’s political discourse, particularly during election seasons. With the Lok Sabha elections looming, Katchatheevu has once again taken centre stage in Tamil Nadu’s political arena. Political outfits, especially those entrenched in the state, look to leverage the Katchatheevu issue to amass support and mobilise voters.

The sentiment among the people of Tamil Nadu, particularly the fishing community, remains deeply entwined with the Katchatheevu issue. The Tamil Nadu government had all along been urging the Centre to take steps to uphold the traditional fishing rights of Indian fishermen in the Palk bay area.

For generations, Tamil fishermen have depended on the waters surrounding Katchatheevu for their livelihoods, and the loss of access to these traditional fishing grounds has inflicted significant hardship.