- Katchatheevu Island, historically belonging to the Ramnad estate of Tamil Nadu was handed over to Sri Lanka by the Indira Gandhi government
- Tamil Nadu has never accepted it and successive governments have been trying to bring it back under India’s fold
- With the Economic crisis looming large on Sri Lanka, India can use its clout to claim its stake on Island
Let’s cut through every pseudo-moralistic argument you have ever heard about how a country should behave in the international arena. The fact of the matter is that every principle is designed to ultimately benefit one country or block over another. This is why India needs to skip its hesitation and take back Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka.
Katchatheevu Island belongs to India
Katchatheevu is an Island located between India and Sri Lanka. Currently, it is not possible to permanently inhabit it. It lies in the Palk Strait. The island was formed due to a volcanic eruption in the 14th century. Its total area is barely 1.15 kilometres square (285 acres). It was initially owned by the Ramnad Kingdom. However, when the delimitation exercise was conducted during British rule (between the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait) between the Madras Presidency and the Ceylon (Sri Lanka) government, then it went to Madras Presidency.
However, in 1921, Sri Lanka started to stake its claim on the tiny Island. Up until India got independence in 1947, the land was jointly administered by both countries. Even after Independence, the Congress government known for its weak foreign policy could not assert India’s claims on the Island. And then came that eventual day in 1974, when the Indian government formally decided to not claim the Katchatheevu Island.
India handed over Katchatheevu Island to Lanka in 1974
Through the Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime agreement to settle the maritime boundary in the Palk Strait, Indira Gandhi handed over the sovereignty of Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. M. Karunanidhi did try to persuade Indira Gandhi against it, but his efforts did not yield any results. The only point in favour of India was that Indian fishermen could use the Island for fishing.
Indian fishermen’s happiness was short-lived as in 1976, the Indira Gandhi government finalised another deal according to which Indian fishermen could not legally use Katchatheevu Island. The text of the agreement quoted by Mint newspaper is, “With the establishment of the Exclusive Economic Zones by the two countries, India and Sri Lanka will exercise sovereign rights over the living and non-living resources of their respective zones. The fishing vessels and fishermen of India shall not engage in fishing in the historic waters, the territorial sea and the Exclusive Economic Zone of Sri Lanka, nor shall the fishing vessels and fishermen of Sri Lanka engage in fishing in the historic waters, the territorial sea and the Exclusive Economic Zone of India, without the express permission of Sri Lanka or India, as the case may be,”
Tamil Nadu wants the island to officially become part of India
Tamil Nadu was never going to be happy with this kind of agreement. It’s mainly Tamil fishermen who used to hunt aquatic animals in the region. Additionally, the island also holds a shrine of St. Anthony, which is regularly visited by Tamil Nadu based Christians. Moreover, when the Indian government signed the agreement to stop fishermen trudge on the Island, the state government was not taken into confidence as it was suspended due to the emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi.
Tamil Nadu has time and again vowed to take Katchatheevu Island back. In 1991, the state government passed a resolution demanding the reclaim of the infamous Island. 17 years later, Jayalalitha asked the Supreme Court to nullify India’s 1974 and 1976 agreements with the island nation. Meanwhile, Indian fishermen continued visiting the boundary for livelihood purposes which became intolerable for Sri Lanka in the 21st century. The Sri Lankan Navy started arresting poor Indian fishermen and the terms of bail were inhuman. According to O Paneerselvam, Sri Lanka Courts are trying to extort 1 crore from poor Indian fishermen.
India needs to reclaim the full sovereignty
The only solution to fishermen’s woos is that India should claim full sovereignty on the Katchatheevu Island. Even the time is perfect. Currently, Sri Lanka is hit by the biggest economic crisis in its history. The country is in shambles and it is dependent on external help. India has provided it with not just monetary support but has also sent its humanitarian assistance as well. Another fact which can help India claim its ownership of the Island is that China has already leased Hambantota from Sri Lanka for 99 years.
So, if a country can give up its sovereign territory to a predatory country like China, it can be persuaded to give up its claim on territory which is of virtually no use to it. The Indian government should start pressuring the Sri Lanka government for it.