The issue surrounding the transfer of Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka has infuriated the local media, which has accused the Indian government of inciting communal sentiments in order to gain political ground in Tamil Nadu, a southern state.
The BJP has begun a new onslaught against the Congress and the governing Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu ahead of the Lok Sabha Election on April 19, 2024. PM Modi accused the governing party of Tamil Nadu, the DMK, of disregarding the interests of the state and criticized them for their handling of the Katchatheevu island problem on Monday.
The local media has expressed disapproval of the recent remarks made by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Katchatheevu, despite the government of Sri Lanka having not yet responded to them.
Sadly, even the seemingly unflappable Indian External Affairs Minister – Jaishankar – has dropped all pretence of statesmanship and has joined hands with his premier to rouse communal feelings in the hope of gaining a few votes in Tamil Nadu,” the English newspaper Daily Mirror, based in Colombo, wrote in an editorial on Tuesday. The editorial said that Sri Lanka should be free from the domestic politics of India.
The words were criticized as “a distortion of facts, a subtle appeal to South Indian nationalism, and a perilous and unnecessary provocation of a friendly neighbour that could lead to serious consequences” by The Daily Financial Times in an editorial headed “Katchatheevu was not India’s to give away.
The editorial issued a warning against the persistently aggressive claims made over Sri Lankan territory, especially by powerful individuals in India. It implied that such acts would force Sri Lanka to look elsewhere for security guarantees.
On Katchatheevu, PM Modi
PM Modi used X to draw attention to fresh information on the handover of the island of Katchatheevu by India to Sri Lanka, showing what he called the DMK’s hypocrisy. He quoted a news article saying that, in spite of public resistance from his party, then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had authorized the pact.
“The DMK has not done anything to advance the interests of Tamil Nadu, notwithstanding its bluster. Recent information on #Katchatheevu has thoroughly shown the hypocrisy of the DMK. The DMK and Congress are comparable to families. They put their kin’s progress ahead of everyone else’s. In particular, their disregard for Katchatheevu has hurt our poor fishermen and fishermenwomen,” PM Modi tweeted.
Based on an RTI answer that Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai got, the media story discusses the 1974 agreement between India and Sri Lanka that was reached during the prime ministerial era of Indira Gandhi.
Row of Katchatheevu Island
There has been an ongoing conflict between Sri Lanka and India over the Katchatheevu island controversy. The primary cause of the issue emerged from the two nations’ divergent interpretations of past accords and treaties.
By bilateral agreement, India gave Sri Lanka administrative responsibility of Katchatheevu in 1974. Fishing rights, maritime borders, and territorial sovereignty remain contentious issues as a result of the agreement’s failure to resolve the marine boundary problem. Tension resulted from this, particularly with regard to Indian fisherman.
The Sri Lankan government has often arrested Indian fishermen for reportedly fishing in the seas close to Katchatheevu. The problem is currently being worked on.
