Context: Prime Minister recently claimed that the then PM Indira Gandhi had given away the island of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka for no reason.

About Katchatheevu Island

• Katchatheevu is a small, uninhabited island measuring merely 285 acres, lying between India and Sri Lanka.

• It is situated in the Palk Strait.

• It was originally owned by the king of Ramnad (present-day Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu).

• The island is used by fishermen to dry their nets.

• Despite its modest size, the island holds significant religious significance, housing Anthony’s church, a centuries-old Catholic shrine revered by devotees from both nations.

• Beyond its religious connotations, Katchatheevu is a vital ecosystem, supporting diverse flora and fauna endemic to the region’s maritime environment.

History

• During the British rule, it was administered jointly by India and Sri Lanka.

• In the early 20th century, Sri Lanka claimed territorial ownership over the islet.

• India ceded the island to Sri Lanka, through a joint agreement in 1974; India further gave up its fishing rights in the region in 1976.

Present Issue

• In 1974 and 1976 treaties were signed between the two countries to demarcate the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

• However, the agreement could not stop the fishermen from fishing in these waters, as fishermen know no boundary.

Culmination of the Political Dispute

• Unresolved Issue: While Indian fishermen retained certain access rights to the island, the agreements failed to address key concerns regarding fishing rights, leading to simmering discontent among fishing communities.

• Sri Lankan Atrocities: The civil war in Sri Lanka overshadowed the Katchatheevu issue, with Indian fishermen facing arrests and allegations of mistreatment by the Sri Lankan navy.

• Renewed Demands: Instances of fishermen’s rights violations reignited calls for the retrieval of Katchatheevu by Tamil Nadu politicians, who highlighted the plight of affected fishing communities.

• Present Backlash: The agreement sparked widespread protests and political backlash in Tamil Nadu, with regional parties and activists condemning the perceived abandonment of Indian sovereignty over Katchatheevu.