'Does Any One Live There': Congress Justifies Giving Away Katchatheevu To Sri Lanka

New Delhi: Amidst the continuing controversy swirling around the Katchatheevu island, the Congress party seems firm in supporting the decision made by the Indira Gandhi government to give up control of the island to Sri Lanka. Speaking to reporters, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh emphasized that the island's significance is minimal as it is uninhabited.  His statement comes soon after the Prime Minister during a rally in Vellore trained his guns on the Congress and DMK for ceding Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka in 1974. 

Reacting to PM's statement, Digvijaya Singh said, “Does anyone live there on that island? He is talking nonsense.” So far, the Congress party has remained steadfast in its stance regarding the Katchatheevu island matter.  

Even, former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru also said that he will have no hesitation in giving up the Katchatheevu island. “I attach no importance at all to this little island and I would have no hesitation in giving up our claim to it,” said Jawaharlal Nehru in May 1961, reveals the MEA document.

Fishermen Facing Consequences: PM in Vellore 

The Prime Minister, during his Vellore rally, raised the issue of Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu getting arrested and their boats being seized by Sri Lanka after Katchatheevu was ceded by the Indira Gandhi-led Congress government.  PM Modi asked in which cabinet meeting was such a decision arrived upon and to 'benefit' whom.  However, the NDA government was ensuring their "permanent release," even as he saved five fishermen from the gallows in Sri Lanka, PM Modi said.

PM Modi mounted the attack on Congress following a Right to Information (RTI) application reply which revealed how the then Congress government-led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi handed over Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974. “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,” said PM Modi. 

Times When PM Modi Spoke on Katchatheevu 

While the Prime Minister intensified his attack over the Congress and DMK for ceding Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka after the RTI reply, this wasn't the first time that the PM spoke of Katchatheevu. Last year in August, PM Modi spoke over Katchatheevu in the Parliament in his reply to a debate on a no-confidence motion. The prime minister said the DMK government in Tamil Nadu keeps writing to him urging him to bring Katchatheevu back to India.

"Katchatheevu is an island between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Somebody gave it to another country. It happened under the leadership of Indira Gandhi," said PM Modi in Parliament. "Wasn't that part of Maa Bharati there?" PM Modi asked adding “These people divided mother India into three parts for politics..”

What is the Katchatheevu Issue?

Katchatheevu is an island, located between Rameswaram (India) and Sri Lanka. It was traditionally used by both Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen. But, Katchatheevu was ceded to Sri Lanka by the Indian government in 1974.

The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi accepted Katchatheevu as a Sri Lankan area under the Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime agreement with her counterpart Srimavo Bandaranaike The move was aimed at resolving the maritime boundaries in the Palk Strait, said observers. Further, another agreement signed in 1976 restricted the fishermen of both the countries from fishing in the other’s exclusive economic zones. Fishermen of the southern states, have been facing difficulty since then.