Katchatheevu row resurfaces in Assembly; TVK Ministers accuse then DMK govt. of failing to stop handover to Sri Lanka
The ruling TVK Ministers accused the then DMK government led by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi of “failing to stop” the Centre from handing over the island to Sri Lanka in 1974
On Wednesday, the Katchatheevu dispute resurfaced in the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly. The ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Members accused the previous DMK government, led by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, of "failing to prevent" the transfer of the uninhabited island to Sri Lanka in 1974. During a discussion on budget demands for Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare departments, Ramanathapuram MLA Katharbatcha Muthuramalingam (DMK) highlighted the hardships faced by Tamil Nadu fishermen at the hands of Sri Lanka's navy after Katchatheevu's handover.
Minister for Water Resources N. Anand responded, asserting that the DMK had handed over Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. DMK members objected to this claim. TVK Whip E.V. Velu contended that Katchatheevu was handed over based on a decision taken by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, with Karunanidhi opposing it. However, Minister for Energy Resources and Law C.T.R.
Nirmal Kumar questioned what the Tamil Nadu government of that era had done, citing a similar case in the 1950s involving the Berubari Union and its subsequent withdrawal through the Supreme Court.
Mr. Kumar then referenced a 1970s incident where Foreign Secretary Kewal Singh discussed the transfer of Katchatheevu with Karunanidhi twice, stating that only with the Chief Minister's consent did the island's handover occur. Kumar also claimed that Kewal Singh had threatened Karunanidhi with legal action to secure the decision. TVK Whip E.V. Velu vehemently denied Kumar's allegations, arguing that the decision was made with the Chief Minister's consent.
AIADMK MLA Thalavai Sundaram asserted that in 2008, then AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa had filed a Supreme Court case concerning Katchatheevu, involving both Union and State governments. However, the State government only filed a counter-affidavit in 2011, he said. The Congress-DMK coalition in the Centre had filed a counter-affidavit stating that Katchatheevu belonged to Sri Lanka, he added.
Congress floor leader Tharahai Cuthbert questioned why the Congress government had not highlighted its own 285-acre Wadge Bank agreement with Sri Lanka. She asked why this agreement was not being discussed.
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