Tamil Nadu Assembly Unanimously Calls for Retrieval of Katchatheevu Island from Sri Lanka

Chennai, April 2 (NationPress) The Tamil Nadu Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution urging the Union government to take swift action to reclaim Katchatheevu Island from Sri Lanka.

This island, situated in the Palk Bay, has been a longstanding issue due to the ongoing struggles of Tamil Nadu fishermen who frequently face arrests and harassment by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who introduced the resolution, stated: "The recovery of Katchatheevu is the sole lasting solution to safeguard the traditional fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen and alleviate their suffering from the Sri Lankan Navy's actions."

This resolution precedes Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Sri Lanka and calls on the Centre to reassess the Indo-Sri Lankan Agreement of 1974, which led to the cession of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. Additionally, it requests the Prime Minister to engage with the Sri Lankan government during his visit to facilitate the release of all detained Indian fishermen and their vessels on humanitarian grounds.

Stalin emphasized the ongoing challenges faced by fishermen, noting that assaults and detentions by the Sri Lankan Navy persist regardless of Sri Lanka's changing political leadership.

"The Union government seems to overlook that these are Indian citizens - Tamil Nadu fishermen. Prior to the 2014 Parliamentary elections, Narendra Modi promised that no fisherman would be arrested if the BJP came to power. Yet, the arrests continue unabated."

Stalin revealed that in 2024 alone, 530 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy, many receiving lengthy prison sentences or significant fines for allegedly breaching maritime boundaries.

"It is profoundly disturbing that the Sri Lankan authorities treat our fishermen so harshly, robbing them of their means of livelihood. This is unacceptable. The Union government must step in and take decisive action," he asserted.

Moreover, the Chief Minister pointed out that he has sent 74 letters to both the Prime Minister and the Union External Affairs Minister regarding this matter. Despite ongoing attempts to foster dialogue between Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen, no substantial progress has been made.

"The actions of the Sri Lankan Navy have placed our fishermen in a perilous situation. Their traditional fishing rights are at risk, and their families live in perpetual fear. How long can we endure this? Reclaiming Katchatheevu is the only viable solution," Stalin stated.

He also criticized political parties and the Union government for perpetuating misinformation that the previous Tamil Nadu government willingly ceded Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka.

"It is regrettable that even the Union government has echoed this narrative for political advantage," he remarked.

The DMK government, according to Stalin, has consistently worked towards reclaiming Katchatheevu and protecting the traditional fishing rights of Indian fishermen. This includes numerous communications to the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister over the years. He also highlighted that during the tenures of former Chief Ministers J. Jayalalithaa and O. Panneerselvam, similar resolutions were passed in October 1991, May 2013, and December 2014, demanding the reclamation of the island.

Stalin recalled his appeal to the Prime Minister during his initial visit to Tamil Nadu after taking office, requesting tangible measures to recover Katchatheevu. He accused the BJP-led Union government of failing to implement any significant actions to resolve this protracted issue.