Katchatheevu

1. PM Modi criticizes Congress for conceding Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in the 1970s.
2. Expresses dismay over Congress’s decision, highlighting lack of trustworthiness.
3. Shares news article outlining events leading to Sri Lanka’s acquisition of the island.

New Delhi, March 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a scathing critique against the Congress on Sunday, condemning their decision to cede the Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in the 1970s.

Sharing a news article detailing the events leading to Sri Lanka’s acquisition of the island, PM Modi took to X to express his dismay, asserting that the Congress party cannot be trusted.

“Eye-opening and startling! New facts reveal how Congress callously gave away Katchatheevu. This has angered every Indian and reaffirmed in people’s minds – we can’t ever trust Congress,” he remarked on X.

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Accusing the Congress of jeopardizing India’s unity, PM Modi emphasized, “Weakening India’s unity, integrity, and interests has been Congress’ way of working for 75 years and counting.”

The article suggests that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru dismissed the significance of the issue, even in the face of staunch opposition from within the country.

It alleges that the decision to relinquish the island was made despite strong protests from the Opposition.

PM Modi’s Remarks in Parliament and Tamil Nadu Rally

Last year, PM Modi informed the Parliament that the Indira Gandhi government had conceded the Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka in 1974.

“These people divided mother India into three parts for politics..,” PM Modi had asserted in the Lok Sabha.

“Katchatheevu is an island between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Somebody gave it to another country. It happened under the leadership of Indira Gandhi,” he remarked.

The island, situated between Rameswaram (India) and Sri Lanka, had been traditionally utilized by both Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen.

However, in 1974, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi recognized Katchatheevu as Sri Lankan territory.

PM Modi also revisited the issue during a recent rally in Tamil Nadu.

Chief Minister M K Stalin of Tamil Nadu had earlier this month accused the Prime Minister of “blatantly lying” during his rally at Kanyakumari on March 15.

Stalin contested PM Modi’s assertion that Tamil Nadu fishermen faced trouble from Sri Lanka solely due to the past “sin” of the DMK.

“The Tamil Nadu people know the true history pretty well; that the Katchatheevu island was ceded (1974, 1976 agreements) to Sri Lanka despite the stiff opposition of the DMK government. Is the Prime Minister naive to the extent of believing that a state government can give away a portion of the country to another country,” Stalin wrote on X.