85
Where is this island located?
Katchatheevu Island is located between Nedunthivu in Sri Lanka and Rameshwaram in India. It is a secluded place of 285 acres. Its length at its widest point does not exceed 1.6 km. It is located north-east of Rameshwaram, about 33 km from the Indian coast. It is about 62 km from Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Traditionally fishermen from both sides have been using it. Katchatheevu Island is culturally important for the fishermen of Tamil Nadu. There have been many movements in Tamil Nadu against handing it over to Sri Lanka. What is the history of the island?
The island was formed after a volcanic eruption in the 14th century. In the medieval period, it was controlled by the Jaffna Kingdom of Sri Lanka. In the 17th century, control passed into the hands of the Ramnad Zamindari, located about 55 km north-west of Ramanathapuram. During the British Raj it became part of Madras Presidency. But in 1921 both India and Sri Lanka claimed the island to set fishing limits. This dispute was not resolved until 1974. Now what is the agreement?
In 1974, Indira Gandhi attempted to settle the maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka once and for all. As a part of this agreement Indira Gandhi ceded Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. At that time, he thought that the island had no strategic importance and that ending India’s claim to it would deepen relations with Sri Lanka. According to the agreement, Indian fishermen were still allowed access to the island. Another agreement was reached in 1976 during the period of Emergency in India. In this, any country was stopped from fishing in the exclusive economic zone of another. What was Tamil Nadu told?
In 1974, the then Foreign Secretary Kewal Singh informed Karunanidhi, then CM of Tamil Nadu, of India’s decision to give up its claim on Katchatheevu. The Foreign Secretary had also told Karunanidhi that Sri Lanka had taken a very firm stand and informed the negotiators that the island was part of Jaffnapatnam in the Dutch and British maps. What is Tamil Nadu’s position on Katchatheevu?
The island was given to Sri Lanka without consulting the Tamil Nadu Assembly. At that time there were strong protests against Indira Gandhi’s move. After India’s intervention in the Sri Lankan civil war in 1991, there was a demand to take back Katchatheevu. In 2008, then leader J. Jayalalitha had filed an application in the court. It was said that Katchatheevu could not be handed over to any other country without a constitutional amendment. Last year, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin had written a letter to PM Modi ahead of Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to India. He had asked to talk on Katchatheevu. What was said in the Supreme Court?
The then Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had told the Supreme Court in 2014, ‘Kachchatheevu was given to Sri Lanka under an agreement in 1974…. How can it be taken back today? If you want Katchatheevu back, you will have to fight to get it back.’
2024-04-02 05:33:48
New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s decision to hand over Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974 is becoming a major issue in Tamil Nadu during the Lok Sabha elections. BJP is raising it vigorously. Let us know what is the story of this island:
Katchatheevu Island is located between Nedunthivu in Sri Lanka and Rameshwaram in India. It is a secluded place of 285 acres. Its length at its widest point does not exceed 1.6 km. It is located north-east of Rameshwaram, about 33 km from the Indian coast. It is about 62 km from Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Traditionally fishermen from both sides have been using it. Katchatheevu Island is culturally important for the fishermen of Tamil Nadu. There have been many movements in Tamil Nadu against handing it over to Sri Lanka.
The island was formed after a volcanic eruption in the 14th century. In the medieval period, it was controlled by the Jaffna Kingdom of Sri Lanka. In the 17th century, control passed into the hands of the Ramnad Zamindari, located about 55 km north-west of Ramanathapuram. During the British Raj it became part of Madras Presidency. But in 1921 both India and Sri Lanka claimed the island to set fishing limits. This dispute was not resolved until 1974.
In 1974, Indira Gandhi attempted to settle the maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka once and for all. As a part of this agreement Indira Gandhi ceded Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. At that time, he thought that the island had no strategic importance and that ending India’s claim to it would deepen relations with Sri Lanka. According to the agreement, Indian fishermen were still allowed access to the island. Another agreement was reached in 1976 during the period of Emergency in India. In this, any country was stopped from fishing in the exclusive economic zone of another.
In 1974, the then Foreign Secretary Kewal Singh informed Karunanidhi, then CM of Tamil Nadu, of India’s decision to give up its claim on Katchatheevu. The Foreign Secretary had also told Karunanidhi that Sri Lanka had taken a very firm stand and informed the negotiators that the island was part of Jaffnapatnam in the Dutch and British maps.
The island was given to Sri Lanka without consulting the Tamil Nadu Assembly. At that time there were strong protests against Indira Gandhi’s move. After India’s intervention in the Sri Lankan civil war in 1991, there was a demand to take back Katchatheevu. In 2008, then leader J. Jayalalitha had filed an application in the court. It was said that Katchatheevu could not be handed over to any other country without a constitutional amendment. Last year, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin had written a letter to PM Modi ahead of Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to India. He had asked to talk on Katchatheevu.
The then Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had told the Supreme Court in 2014, ‘Kachchatheevu was given to Sri Lanka under an agreement in 1974…. How can it be taken back today? If you want Katchatheevu back, you will have to fight to get it back.’