TN House Okays Resolution for Retrieval of Katchatheevu

The Tamil Nadu assembly on Wednesday unanimously adopted a special resolution in the assembly urging the Union government to retrieve the uninhabited island of Katchatheevu (in Palk Bay) and review the 1974 India-Sri Lanka agreement.

- Divya Chandrababu

CHENNAI:

Chief minister MK Stalin introduced the resolution urging Modi to speak of the continued attacks on fishermen during his trip to Sri Lanka, from April 3-6, and also take efforts to retrieve the Katchatheevu island. Though the opposition AIADMK and BJP accused the DMK of ceding the island when their ally Congress was governing at the Centre, they backed the resolution's demand.

"Retrieval of Katchatheevu island is the only permanent solution to protect the traditional fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen and to mitigate the sufferings faced by them due to the Sri Lankan Navy," the resolution read. The resolution also urged the Prime Minister to use diplomacy with Sri Lanka to ensure that all imprisoned fishermen are released along with their boats.

In 2024, a total of 530 fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy. "These fishermen were given maximum prison sentences or hefty fines on claims that they crossed the maritime boundary," Stalin said.

"It is a matter of great concern that the Sri Lankan government and its Navy treat our fishermen with such cruelty, depriving them of their livelihoods. The BJP-led Union government must take action to stop it," he said.

He further said that despite a regime change in Sri Lanka last year, these attacks and detention of fishermen of Tamil Nadu continued. He reminded the assembly that Modi during his 2014 campaign, before he became Prime Minister for the first time, had assured that no fisherman will be affected in his governance.