Why Katchatheevu Island is at the Center of India’s Election Controversy
The upcoming 2024 Indian elections have been marked by a heated debate over the alleged gifting of Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka by the former Congress government. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have accused the Congress Party of handing over Indian territory to Sri Lanka, sparking controversy and drawing attention to a long-standing diplomatic issue.
Katchatheevu Island, a small barren land located within Sri Lanka’s maritime boundary, has been a point of contention between India and Sri Lanka for decades. The island, which lies off the coast of Tamil Nadu, has historical significance and is emotionally charged for many residents of the southern Indian state.
Modi’s allegations stem from a Right to Information (RTI) request filed by the Tamil Nadu BJP President, suggesting that the Congress government under then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in consultation with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party in Tamil Nadu, transferred ownership of Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka in the 1970s. The BJP has accused Congress of betraying Indian interests and undermining the country’s unity.
However, diplomats and analysts have pointed out that the truth is more complex than Modi’s claims. The 1974 agreement between India and Sri Lanka recognized Katchatheevu as part of Sri Lanka’s territory, paving the way for further agreements on maritime boundaries and fishing rights. The accord allowed Indian fishermen and pilgrims to visit the island without needing travel documents or visas.
The BJP’s decision to raise the Katchatheevu issue during the election campaign has been seen as a strategic move to gain support in Tamil Nadu, where the party has had limited success in the past. With Tamil Nadu holding significant electoral weight, the BJP’s focus on the island’s controversy is aimed at appealing to voters in the state.
While the BJP’s allegations have stirred debate and controversy, many analysts question the timing and motives behind the accusations. Critics argue that raising the Katchatheevu issue during the election may not be in India’s best diplomatic interests and could strain relations with Sri Lanka.
As the election season unfolds, the debate surrounding Katchatheevu Island continues to be a point of contention in Indian politics, highlighting the complexities of diplomatic relationships and historical disputes in the region.
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1. The controversy surrounding Katchatheevu Island, with Indian Prime Minister Modi accusing the former Congress government of gifting Indian territory to Sri Lanka, has sparked a heated debate in India over a key diplomatic relationship.
2. The issue originated from a Right to Information (RTI) request suggesting that in the 1970s, the Congress Party under the leadership of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi transferred ownership of Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka.
3. Many analysts believe that the BJP’s decision to bring up Katchatheevu is aimed at gaining support in Tamil Nadu during the election, where the BJP has a small presence.
4. Katchatheevu is a small, barren island within Sri Lanka’s maritime boundary, located off the coast of Tamil Nadu. Control of the island has been a point of contention between India and Sri Lanka, particularly regarding fishing rights in the surrounding waters.
5. In 1974, India acknowledged Katchatheevu as part of Sri Lanka’s territory in a maritime boundary agreement signed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her Sri Lankan counterpart, Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
6. The two largest parties in Tamil Nadu, the DMK and the AIADMK, have long advocated for the retrieval of the Katchatheevu Island from Sri Lanka, with the BJP blaming the DMK government for being complicit in handing over the island to Sri Lanka.
7. The 1974 agreement placed Katchatheevu on the Sri Lankan side of the international maritime boundary line but also paved the way for an understanding in 1976 that recognized India’s sovereign rights over the Wadge Bank and its rich resources in the region.