At a fiery political rally, actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay called on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reclaim Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka, accusing the Sri Lankan Navy of attacking Indian fishermen and reviving a decades-old territorial dispute.
Popular Indian actor Thalapathy Vijay has stirred controversy by demanding that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reclaim Katchatheevu island, which was ceded to Sri Lanka through a 1974 agreement. Speaking at a political rally yesterday, Vijay alleged that the Sri Lankan Navy has attacked and destroyed the livelihoods of more than 800 Indian fishermen.
“The Sri Lankan Navy has attacked and destroyed more than 800 Indian fishermen. Therefore, take over Katchatheevu island for India,” Vijay declared, drawing loud applause from supporters.
Katchatheevu is a 285-acre island in the Palk Strait that officially came under Sri Lanka’s sovereignty through an agreement signed on June 26, 1974, between then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka and Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. A second maritime boundary agreement was signed in 1976, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s ownership of both the island and the fish resources in surrounding waters.
The Sri Lankan government has repeatedly insisted that Indian fishermen cross into Sri Lankan waters illegally, violating international maritime laws. Those caught are arrested, produced before court, and either fined, released on bail, or handed short-term sentences. While Sri Lanka maintains that fishermen are not harassed or harmed, Vijay alleged that many Indian fishermen have been killed by the Sri Lankan Navy.
The issue of Katchatheevu has resurfaced in Indian politics as a matter of national pride and fishermen’s rights. When Prime Minister Modi visited Sri Lanka in April 2025, he floated the idea of acquiring the island on a 99-year lease, stressing that the territory legally belongs to India. However, both the ruling BJP and regional DMK governments have faced criticism for failing to resolve the matter.
Critics of the DMK argue that the 1974 agreement effectively surrendered the island to Sri Lanka due to “addiction to power,” a charge that continues to haunt Tamil Nadu politics. Vijay’s remarks now add fresh pressure on Modi’s government to take a stronger stance as tensions between fishermen of both nations intensify.
