The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution calling for the retrieval of Katchatheevu island, urging the Union Government to amend its agreement with Sri Lanka to protect the interests of Tamil Nadu’s fishermen. The resolution was announced by Speaker Appavu, reflecting bipartisan support for the cause.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin addressed the Leader of Opposition, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (AIADMK), who had earlier criticized the DMK for failing to act on the Katchatheevu issue during its time in power. Rejecting these claims, Stalin countered, “For the past 10 years when your (AIADMK) government was in power, what were you doing? Did you talk about the Katchatheevu issue? Even recently, you went to Delhi, but did you raise this matter?”
He also highlighted the ongoing harassment and arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, revealing that in 2024 alone, over 500 fishermen have been arrested—an average of two arrests per day—and subjected to either maximum imprisonment or heavy fines. Stalin emphasized that despite writing 74 letters to Prime Minister Modi and the External Affairs Ministry, no permanent solution had been reached.
“Retrieving Katchatheevu is the only solution. Certain political parties falsely claim that Tamil Nadu gave up the island, but the Union Government must take responsibility and amend the agreement with Sri Lanka in favor of our fishermen,” Stalin asserted.
Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami hit back at the DMK, accusing the ruling party of neglecting the Katchatheevu issue while it was in power at both the state and central levels. He traced the island’s history, stating:
- Katchatheevu was under Ramanathapuram Samasthanam until 1948.
- In 1974, under Congress rule, the island was given to Sri Lanka while DMK was in power in Tamil Nadu.
Palaniswami recalled that former CM Jayalalithaa had filed a Supreme Court case in 2008 and passed a resolution in 2009 to retrieve Katchatheevu, yet the issue remains unresolved. He further cited a Supreme Court ruling that no land can be ceded to a foreign country without the approval of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, arguing that the matter is still sub judice.
He also accused the DMK of using the issue for electoral gain, stating,
“With just one year left for the Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2026, DMK has suddenly picked up this issue. This is nothing but a political stunt.”
With the Tamil Nadu Assembly officially calling for the retrieval of Katchatheevu, the ball is now in the Centre’s court. As tensions between Tamil Nadu fishermen and the Sri Lankan Navy continue to escalate, the focus shifts to whether the Union Government will amend the Indo-Lanka agreement or maintain the status quo.
