TN Assembly passes unanimous resolution to retrieve Katchatheevu island

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Union government to take steps to reclaim Katchatheevu Island from Sri Lanka. The resolution received support from all parties, including the AIADMK and BJP, highlighting the shared concern over the hardships faced by Tamil Nadu’s fishermen due to frequent arrests and boat seizures by the Sri Lankan Navy. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin led the discussion, asserting that the only permanent solution to the ongoing crisis was the retrieval of Katchatheevu. He urged the Union government to amend the agreement with Sri Lanka and called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka, to raise the issue with its leaders.

"This House unanimously urges the Union government to take all steps to retrieve Katchatheevu and secure the release of our fishermen," Stalin declared. He criticised the Centre for failing to protect Tamil Nadu’s fishermen, stating, “The Union government seems to forget that Tamil Nadu fishermen are also Indian fishermen.” He reminded the House of Prime Minister Modi’s 2014 assurance that fishermen would not be targeted but highlighted that arrests and boat seizures continued. "In 2024 alone, over 500 fishermen have been arrested—that is two per day. The External Affairs Minister himself admitted in March that 97 fishermen are still in Sri Lankan prisons. This must stop," Stalin said while presenting the resolution.

BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan supported the resolution but questioned why the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) had not taken action on the issue when it was in power at the Centre. "We believe that only Prime Minister Modi can retrieve Katchatheevu," she stated, adding, "But why didn’t the DMK raise this issue when they were in power at the Centre for decades?" She cited an RTI response claiming that Tamil Nadu’s then Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi—Stalin’s father—was aware of the 1974 island transfer and was expected to “keep reactions low-key.” Stalin, however, firmly rejected allegations that the DMK had agreed to the decision, stating, “The DMK opposed the move and even convened an all-party meeting against it.”

Senior DMK leaders, including Law Minister S. Raghupathy and Water Resources Minister Durai Murugan, also rejected the claims. "Karunanidhi was neither consulted nor did he give consent," Raghupathy asserted. "He immediately convened an all-party meeting to oppose the move." Durai Murugan challenged critics to provide proof of Karunanidhi’s alleged approval, stating, "He was furious and even went to Delhi to meet Indira Gandhi, who merely said she would look into it."

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K. Selvaperunthagai, while supporting the resolution, criticised attempts to blame the Congress alone for the issue. “Historical facts are being distorted,” he argued, pointing out that Indira Gandhi’s agreements, including the Katchatheevu deal, had helped India secure 6,500 sq km of maritime territory and improved conditions for Tamil refugees in Sri Lanka. “It is unfair to claim that only Katchatheevu mattered. Why aren’t we discussing the Wadge Bank agreement, which gave Tamil Nadu valuable infrastructure?" he asked. He also referenced an RTI response from External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, stating that Katchatheevu was ceded due to its geographical proximity to Sri Lanka. "Why has the Union government not raised this issue with the Sri Lankan President in recent meetings?" he questioned.

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami supported the resolution but pointed out that the issue predated both the DMK and Congress. "Katchatheevu was part of the Ramanathapuram Samasthanam until 1948. It was under Congress rule in 1974 that it was given away while DMK was in power in Tamil Nadu," he said. He recalled that former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa had filed a case in the Supreme Court in 2008 and passed a resolution in 2009 demanding the island’s retrieval. "The Supreme Court has ruled that no land can be ceded to another country without Parliament’s approval. The matter is still sub-judice," he said, questioning why the DMK had failed to act when it was part of the Central Government for 16 years.

Stalin countered Palaniswami’s remarks, saying, "Instead of finding faults, let’s focus on passing the resolution. But since EPS has raised the question, let me ask him—what did you do in the 10 years your party was in power? Even recently, you went to Delhi. What did you do about Katchatheevu?" Palaniswami, in response, maintained that his party remained committed to the issue. "This is an emotional issue for our fishermen, and we fully support the resolution."

With unanimous support from all parties, including the BJP, the resolution was passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, strengthening Tamil Nadu’s demand for the retrieval of Katchatheevu.