CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution urging the central govt to review the Indo-Lankan agreement and retrieve the Katchatheevu islet ceded to the island nation in 1974. The resolution was backed by all parties, including the opposition BJP and AIADMK.
Moving the resolution, chief minister M K Stalin said: “I am pained to say the BJP govt that came to office for the third time (at the Centre) has not taken any constructive steps to retrieve Katchatheevu. The Union govt often forgets that fishermen from Tamil Nadu are Indian fishermen. It seems we must repeatedly emphasise this.”
The debate saw AIADMK and BJP criticise DMK‘s “role in ceding the islet” and its alleged lack of action to reclaim it while being a part of the United Progressive Alliance govt at the Centre for a decade.
Replying to the opposition’s accusations, Stalin said former CM M Karunanidhi had vehemently opposed the agreement. Accusing rivals of spreading false information against then DMK govt that it ceded Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka, Stalin detailed Karunanidhi’s actions, including convening an all-party meeting and writing to then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1974, a day after the agreement was made.
The resolution also called on PM Modi to negotiate the release of fishermen and their boats during his official visit to Sri Lanka this week.
Stalin pointed to the ongoing hardships faced by fishermen and the need for a permanent solution to the recurring issue of arrests and the impact on their livelihood. He termed the arrests as “a series of disasters that are unstoppable”.
Stalin cited statistics regarding the number of fishermen arrested, stating that 97 were still in Sri Lankan prisons as of March 27, including 11 arrested last week. In all, 530 fishermen were arrested last year. He described Sri Lanka’s actions as lacking mercy and destroying the fishermen’s livelihood. “This is highly concerning and condemnable. The BJP govt should put a stop to this,” the CM added.
Recalling external affairs minister S Jaishankar’s statement about the challenge in finding a solution, the CM asked if the Centre would remain passive if fishermen from another state faced similar issues. He said he wrote 74 letters to Modi and Jaishankar and spoke to the PM in person regarding the issue. “The livelihood of Tamil Nadu fishermen is severely affected as the Sri Lankan govt releases them when the issue is raised and continues to arrest them,” he said, asking how long the arrests could be tolerated.
