Katchatheevu uproar in Parliament

Members from AIADMK, DMK, CPI and BJP on Monday created uproar in the Rajya Sabha over an affidavit filed by the Government in the Supreme Court on Katchatheevu, a small island ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974, and demanded that it be retrieved. There was also a demand that the Government should strictly enforce the fishermen treaty between two nations. Katchatheevu is an island under Sri Lankan control where Indian fishermen can rest and dry their nets under an agreement of 1974.

AIADMK launched a scathing attack on Congress.

V. Maitreyan (AIADMK):-

Katchatheevu is part of India. Entire Tamil Nadu is shocked that UPA government in an affidavit to Supreme Court ceded it to Sri Lanka. This is the greatest betrayal to Tamil Nadu. Congress considers this country is zamindari of government. Congress is anti-Tamil Nadu. People of Tamil Nadu will teach a lesson to Congress. Retrieve Katchatheevu to India. He also referred to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s submission in the Supreme Court that Katchatheevu belonged to India and it was ceded to Sri Lanka in an illegal manner without necessary Parliamentary approval.

D. Raja (CPI):-

We strongly deplore the affidavit by Government of India to Supreme Court. Government of India should demand reopening of Katchatheevu agreement and renegotiate it.

Kanimozhi (DMK):-

Kachchatheevu was under the control of the King of Ramanathapuram.

M. Venkaiah Naidu (BJP):-

Call an all party meeting on the issue while urging the Centre to recall its affidavit.

A large number of members associated themselves with Mr. Maitreyan’s demand for retrieving the islet to India saying fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been using the islet since ages for drying their nets.