CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu assembly on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Union govt to review the Indo-Lankan agreement and retrieve Katchatheevu islet ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974. The resolution called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to negotiate the release of fishermen and their boats during his official visit to the island nation this week. Parties, including AIADMK, Congress, BJP, PMK, VCK, MDMK, and Left parties, backed the resolution moved by chief minister M K Stalin.
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. Terming the arrests “a series of disasters that are unstoppable”, Stalin said, “I am pained to say the BJP govt that came to power for the third time has not taken any constructive steps to retrieve Katchatheevu. 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 the DMK’s “role in ceding the islet” and accuse it of lack of action to reclaim it while part of the UPA govt at the Centre.
Stalin said 97 fishermen 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. “The BJP govt should put a stop to this,” he said.
Recalling external affairs minister S Jaishankar’s statement about challenges in finding a solution, Stalin asked if the Centre would remain passive if fishermen from another state faced similar issues. He wrote 74 letters to Modi and Jaishankar and spoke to Modi in person regarding the issue. “There is a lack of constructive outcome from the talks between fishermen of the two countries. 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.
On accusations against DMK over the ceding of Katchatheevu, Stalin said M Karunanidhi had vehemently opposed the agreement. He said it had become a habit for political parties to spread false information that DMK govt ceded Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. “It is regrettable and unacceptable that Union govt makes the same mistake that parties make for political gain,” he said, detailing Karunanidhi’s actions as chief minister, including convening an all-party meeting and writing to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1974, a day after the agreement was made. Stalin recalled the opposition by DMK MPs Era Chezhian and S S Marisamy in Parliament.
Stalin recalled the govt resolution passed in the assembly by DMK govt in 1974, urging Union govt to reconsider its decision. Similar resolutions passed during Jayalalithaa’s tenure in 1991 and 2013, and during O Panneerselvam’s tenure in 2014, also sought retrieval of Katchatheevu islet.