PM Narendra Modi recently made a remark about Katchatheevu Island being handed over to Sri Lanka by Indira Gandhi Govt.
Here is a #thread 🧵 on how the Island was a part of India and Congress gave it to Sri Lanka. (1/9)
Katchatheevu stands as a small, uninhabited island situated within the Palk Strait, serving as a link between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
The Island was traditionally shared by fishermen from both countries. (2/9)
In 1921, both Sri Lanka and India claimed this piece of land for fishing and the dispute remained unsettled.
The 285-acre land was jointly administered by India and Sri Lanka during British rule.
But in 1974, the Indira Gandhi govt handed over the island to Sri Lanka. (3/9)
The Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime Agreement under Indira Gandhi's leadership handed over Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka, triggering disputes.
The Congress's role in this decision raises questions about safeguarding India's interests and sovereignty. (4/9)
During the LTTE era, Sri Lanka curtailed the movement of its own fishermen due to military concerns.
In 2009, heightened maritime security measures were introduced in the Palk Strait to prevent the re-entry of Tamil insurgents. (5/9)
This shift led to unintended opportunities for Indian fishermen. However, as the conflict ended in 2010, Sri Lankan fishermen regained their movement in the Palk Bay.
A complex interplay of security, insurgency, and territorial rights unfolded in this maritime domain. (6/9)
A 1991 resolution in Tamil Nadu Assembly and subsequent legal battles underscore the persistent efforts to reclaim Katchatheevu Island. (7/9)
zeenews.india.com/news/tamil-nad…
In 2008, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa, took the matter to the Supreme Court, urging the annulment of Katchatheevu agreements.
Citing unconstitutionality, she contested the validity of the treaties that relinquished Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. (8/9)
Congress's decisions continue to be a topic of debate with numerous incidents highlighting the party compromising sovereignty of India.
PM Modi rightly slammed Congress when he said, “Wasn’t that part of Maa Bharati there?” (9/9)
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