Jaishankar Tells Stalin Katchatheevu Agreement Was Signed After Understanding Between Cong, DMK

Chennai: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, on Thursday, brought up the Katchatheevu agreement after the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu MK Stalin wrote to the former about the alleged detention of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Jaishankar, through a written communiqué, spoke about the problems faced by the fishermen that can be traced back to the Katchatheevu agreement.

Further, in response to the CM, the EAM highlighted the agreement's impact on Tamil Nadu fishermen's woes. Jaishankar emphasised that the problems faced by the fishermen can be traced back to the Katchatheevu agreement and pointed out that the accord was made under an understanding between the then Congress and DMK governments.

Jaishankar wrote, “You are also aware that the genesis of this issue goes back to 1947, following an understanding between the then Union Government and the State Government.”

He added, "After coming to office in 2014, the NDA government has endeavoured to address the livelihood interests of our fishing community and its humanitarian aspects. These efforts continue in their multiple dimensions including through engaging the government of Sri Lanka. You may be assured that we give the utmost priority to the welfare and security of Indian fishermen and will always do."  

Congress, DMK Committed Sin: PM Modi

Earlier, during the campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi had made a Tamil-centric pitch, reiterating setting up Thiruvalluvar centres and labelled Congress and the DMK as 'sinners' over ceding of Katchatheevu islet to Sri Lanka Modi dubbed the DMK and Congress, "anti-national" and said the entire country had understood the "truth", that they had given Katchatheevu islet to another country (Sri Lanka) after "cutting it off" from Tamil Nadu. Not only did they keep "the people of Tamil Nadu in the dark, they told lies to them and committed a sin behind the scenes", Modi alleged. 

"Our fishermen brothers get the punishment for the sins of the DMK and Congress," he said, in an apparent reference to the frequent arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lanka. This "sin" of theirs remained hidden for four decades and it is the BJP that unravelled the truth and brought it to the attention of the people, he claimed. Following this, the DMK and Congress have just "gone silent", he alleged. 

The Katchatheevu agreement refers to a treaty signed between India and Sri Lanka in 1974, which ceded the islet of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka, affecting Tamil Nadu fishermen, who traditionally fished in the waters around Katchatheevu. The islet was ceded to Lanka in an agreement by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.