As national elections loom, the political climate in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, heats up over the Katchatheevu Island controversy. The Bharatiya Janata Party, along with Congress and DMK, are on the offensive over a decision made years ago to cede Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka.
In 1974, under the governance of Indira Gandhi, an agreement resulted in the transferal of Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka. Despite comments from India's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, the Sri Lankan government has yet to respond. However, the local media has been critical, describing the move as India's attempt to incite communal tensions in Tamil Nadu for electoral gains.
Located in the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka, Katchatheevu Island sits at the southern edge of the Indian Ocean. A diplomatic agreement between then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India and President Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka in 1974, after two rounds of talks, led to Sri Lanka's acquisition of the island under certain conditions.
What the Sri Lankan Media Is Saying
The English-language Sri Lankan newspaper 'Daily Mirror' editorialized on the issue on Tuesday. They ran the headline: 'Modi wants Katchatheevu - it's election time in Tamil Nadu'. They comment, 'At a rally in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi suddenly faulted the deal with Sri Lanka made by former PM Indira Gandhi. It's election season in India, where the BJP has never come to power in the southernmost state of Tamil Nadu.'
The 'Daily Mirror' further wrote, 'Regrettably, India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, famed for his acumen, has dropped diplomatic pretense in hopes of securing some Tamil Nadu votes by instigating communal sentiment to echo his Prime Minister. We hope Sri Lanka will not be dragged into Indian politics. Sri Lanka wishes to remain aloof from India's internal policymaking.'
Katchatheevu was not India's to 'give away': Daily Financial Times
Another Sri Lankan paper 'Daily Financial Times' also featured the issue prominently. Their headline read: 'Katchatheevu was not India’s to “give away”'. They criticized Prime Minister Modi for reviving a sovereignty issue over Katchatheevu Island. This decades-old issue, resolved through diplomatic talks, is now being politically resuscitated. PM Modi's approach has been called dangerous and unnecessary provocation that could lead to serious consequences.
The paper also warned, 'Provocative claims over Sri Lankan territory by top Indian officials might compel us to seek security guarantees elsewhere. It would be regrettable for both countries if Sri Lanka, even after learning of diplomacy from Emperor Ashoka and strategy from Chanakya, is forced to embrace a Commonwealth foreign policy that advises befriending another to avert an 'imminent foe'–a principle derived from Chanakya's diplomacy.'
Prime Minister Modi and Foreign Minister Jaishankar's Accusation Against Congress
Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to an RTI response on Monday, claiming, 'It's a shocking case. Fresh facts reveal Congress intentionally gave away Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka. Every Indian is angered by this, compounding the distrust towards Congress, a pattern evident for 75 years to undermine India's integrity, unity, and interests.'
Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar also accused previous Congress PMs of neglect regarding Katchatheevu Island and ignoring Indian fishermen. He noted that former PMs Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi trivialized the ceded island as a 'small island' and a 'small rock' during the 1974 maritime boundary agreement.
