PM Modi strongly criticized the Congress party for relinquishing the Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka during the tenure of the Indira Gandhi government in 1974, stating that this decision has angered the Indian populace and reaffirmed their distrust towards Congress. He accused the party of consistently undermining India’s unity, integrity, and interests throughout its decades in power.
“Eye-opening and alarming! Recent revelations expose how the Congress recklessly surrendered #Katchatheevu. This has incensed every Indian and reinforced the belief – we can never rely on Congress! For 75 years and counting, weakening India’s unity, integrity, and interests has been the modus operandi of Congress,” PM Modi posted on X, referencing a news report.
It’s worth noting that historically, the Katchatheevu island, situated between Rameswaram (India) and Sri Lanka, was utilized by fishermen from both nations. However, in 1974, then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi acknowledged Katchatheevu as Sri Lankan territory under the “Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime Agreement,” formalizing Sri Lanka’s sovereignty over the island.
During a previous session in August last year, while responding to a debate on a no-confidence motion, PM Modi criticized the Congress for dividing “Maa Bharati” into three parts for political gain and highlighted the issue of the Katchatheevu Island being ceded to Sri Lanka during the tenure of the Indira Gandhi government in 1974.
“During Indira Gandhi’s tenure as Prime Minister, there was an aerial bombing in Mizoram, and the Katchatheevu island, now part of Sri Lanka, was handed over to another country. Was it not part of Maa Bharati?” he remarked.
“Just ask those who have ventured out, what is Katchatheevu? And where is it situated? The DMK government, led by their CM, writes to me – Modi ji bring back Katchatheevu. It’s an island, but who gave it to another country? Was it not a part of Maa Bharati (Mother India)? And you severed it. This occurred under the leadership of Indira Gandhi,” PM Modi stated.