PM Modi criticises Congress for surrendering Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka

PTC News Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress party on Sunday, accusing it of negligently relinquishing control of the Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka during the 1970s, which he deemed as detrimental to India's unity.

PM Modi took to social media to share a news article detailing the events leading to Sri Lanka's acquisition of the island. He emphasised that such actions eroded trust in the Congress party's commitment to national interests. Last year, PM Modi addressed the Parliament, revealing that the Indira Gandhi-led government had ceded control of the Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka in 1974.

In his address to the Lok Sabha, PM Modi highlighted the divisive politics of the Congress party, stating, "These people divided mother India into three parts for politics... Katchatheevu is an island between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Somebody gave it to another country. It happened under the leadership of Indira Gandhi."

Historically, the Katchatheevu Island, situated between Rameswaram (India) and Sri Lanka, was utilised by fishermen from both nations. However, in 1974, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi recognised Katchatheevu as Sri Lankan territory.

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Recently, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin contested PM Modi's remarks made during a rally in Kanyakumari on March 15, accusing him of spreading falsehoods. Stalin asserted that Tamil Nadu fishermen faced challenges from Sri Lanka due to the past actions of the Congress party and not the DMK.

Stalin pointed out that despite the DMK government's opposition, the Katchatheevu island was ceded to Sri Lanka through agreements in 1974 and 1976. He questioned the Prime Minister's understanding of history, suggesting that no state government could unilaterally relinquish a part of the country to another nation.

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(Inputs from agencies)