TN Assembly passes resolution seeking retrieval of Katchatheevu islet

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Wednesday unanimously resolved to retrieve Katchatheevu island to permanently protect the rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen and mitigate the sufferings they face at the hands of the Sri Lankan Navy.

The resolution moved by Chief Minister MK Stalin and unanimously adopted in the House with the support of all parties, including the BJP legislators, urged the “Union government to immediately review the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement and take steps to retrieve Katchatheevu Island.”

The resolution also prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss with the Lankan government, during his official visit to the country, the release of all ‘our’ imprisoned fishermen and their boats on a goodwill basis.

Katchatheevu island was given to Sri Lanka by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi under the Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime agreement inked in 1974.

Moving the resolution in the House during the Zero Hour, Stalin recorded with a “heavy heart” the repeated attack of Sri Lankan navy on fishermen from Tamil Nadu and said the perennial problem remained unchanged despite the amount of political changes witnessed in the island nation.

“It has become incumbent upon us to unequivocally emphasise that they are Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu because the Union government frequently forgets it. Why is the colour of sea water red now? It is because of the blood shed by our Tamil Nadu fishermen,” rued Stalin.

Citing the reply of External Affairs minister S Jaishankar in the Rajya Sabha on March 27 that as on date, about 97 Indian fishermen were in Lankan prisons, Stalin said going by the EAM’s account, about two fishermen were arrested daily (530 fishermen arrested in 2024 alone) and they were either imprisoned or a heavy penalty imposed on them.

Taking exception to EAM’s statement that a resolution to the issue was challenging, the CM questioned, “What could be the challenge involved? Will they (Centre) remain spectators if fishermen of some other state are subjected to such attacks?”

BJP didn’t take constructive measures: Stalin

Pointing out that he has written 74 letters to the External Affairs Minister and the Prime Minister regarding the fishermen's arrest issue, Stalin asked, “How long can this be tolerated?”

Listing out the various efforts taken by the Tamil Nadu government on the issue of retrieving the ceded island to resolve the vexing fishermen issue, Stalin said, “I place on record with agony that the BJP regime, which returned to power for the third time, has not taken constructive measures to retrieve Katchatheevu. Hence, this House desires that the Prime Minister, who will be leaving for Sri Lanka soon, must hold talks to permanently resolve the fishermen issue and for the constructive initiative to retrieve Katchatheevu.”

MK strongly opposed island ceding: Stalin

Rebutting the Opposition’s criticism that the DMK, which was in power during the ceding of the island to Lanka, was party to the act, the CM clarified, “It has become a habit of political parties to spread misinformation as if the State government ceded the island to Sri Lanka. It is ‘regrettable’ and ‘unacceptable’ that the Union government is committing the same mistake as some political parties do for political gains.”

Reiterating that the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had vehemently opposed the ceding of the island, Stalin said, “The then DMK MPs Era Chezhian and SS Maarisamy had opposed it strongly in Parliament. After the Katchatheevu agreement was inked on June 28, 1974, amid stiff opposition, Kalaignar convened an all-party meeting and adopted a resolution condemning the ceding, and sent it to the PM the same day.”

Recalling the government resolution adopted in the House on August 21, 1974 for amending the Indo-Lanka accord and restoring the rights of India over Katchatheevu, Stalin acknowledged the resolutions adopted in the TNLA during the tenures of former CM J Jayalalithaa and O Panneerselvam for retrieving the island, and said that he had raised the issue during PM Modi’s first visit to TN. Citing the letters written by him to PM Modi on July 19, 2023 and EAM Jaishankar on July 2, 2024, for retrieving the island and resolving the fishermen issue, Stalin said the DMK has taken numerous initiatives to retrieve the ceded island and uphold the traditional fishing rights of the State fishermen.