The issue of Katchatheevu island has once again come to the fore before the Lok Sabha elections. Even before the assembly elections, Prime Minister Modi had mentioned this island.
Even after independence, this piece of land was under India but Sri Lanka used to lay claim to it. Under an agreement in 1974, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi handed over this island to Sri Lanka. Katchatheevu Island in the Indian Ocean is located off the southern tip of India and midway between Sri Lanka.
No one lives on this island due to volcanic eruptions. However, complete control over it rests with Sri Lanka. There is a church on this island. It is worth noting that this island is very useful for fishermen.
According to the report, Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai has obtained documents regarding the handing over of this island through RTI.
According to documents, this island is located at a distance of 20 kilometers from India and its size is 1.9 square kilometers. After India’s independence, Sri Lanka i.e. then Ceylon started claiming it.
In 1955, the Ceylon Navy conducted maneuvers on the island. The Indian Navy was stopped from conducting maneuvers.
Pandit Nehru had said- I will not hesitate to give the island
Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had once said in the Parliament that I do not want the issue of this island to be heard again and again in the Parliament, hence we will not hesitate in giving up our claim on it. The then Commonwealth Secretary YD Gundevia prepared a note. It was used as a backgrounder by the Advisory Committee in 1968.
In fact, till the 17th century, this island was under the zamindari of King Ramnad of Madurai. However, during the British rule it came under Madras Presidency. This island was used by fishermen. There was always tension regarding this island.
After this, meetings took place between the two countries in 1974. The first meeting was held in Colombo and the second in New Delhi. After this, Indira Gandhi in a way gifted the island to Sri Lanka.
When the meetings were held, India had also presented many evidences regarding its rights on this island. There was also mention of the rights of King Namanad in this. Whereas Sri Lanka could not present any such claim.
Despite this, the Foreign Secretary said that Sri Lanka’s claim is also strong. It shows that the island was part of Jaffnapatnam.
The Survey of India team accepts that Madras has not disclosed that the Raja of Ramnad had the original title to it, an agreement was made to hand over the island so that the fishermen could use the island to dry their nets.
Apart from this, Indians will be able to visit the church on this island without visa. Another agreement signed in 1976 stated that Indian fishermen could not enter the Exclusive Economic Zone of Sri Lanka with fishing vessels. After this a lot of controversy erupted.
Even during the handing over of the island to Sri Lanka, the then Chief Minister Karunanidhi had opposed it. In 1991, a proposal to merge this island with India was also passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. After this, in 2008, Jayalalitha said in the Supreme Court that how did the Indian government hand over its island to any other country without amending the constitution.
In 2011, he also got a resolution passed in the Assembly. However, in 2014, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said that the island has been given to Sri Lanka and if it has to be taken, there is no other option but to fight a war.