Chennai, India – Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has introduced a resolution to reclaim the Katchatheevu island, which was ceded to Sri Lanka under the 1974 Indo-Lanka Agreement. The resolution, presented to the Rajya Sabha, is expected to be passed unanimously.
Chief Minister Stalin emphasized that the move is essential to protect the traditional fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen and to address ongoing tensions involving the Sri Lankan Navy.
“Reclaiming Katchatheevu is the only permanent solution to safeguard the livelihoods of our fishermen and put an end to recurring confrontations at sea,” Stalin asserted while tabling the resolution.
The Tamil Nadu government has long argued that the 1974 agreement, which transferred the uninhabited island to Sri Lanka, was made without consulting the state and has since caused repeated hardships for Indian fishermen, including arrests and confiscation of fishing vessels.
The resolution calls on the Indian Central Government to reassess the Indo-Lanka maritime pact and take all necessary diplomatic and legal measures to bring Katchatheevu back under Indian sovereignty.
Political observers note that the issue may reignite long-standing geopolitical tensions between the two South Asian neighbors, particularly with regard to maritime boundaries and fishing rights in the Palk Strait.
As of now, there has been no official response from the Sri Lankan government.
