Katchatheevu Island Row: Jaishankar Calls Congress And DMK Irresponsible, Says Responded To Tamil Nadu CM 21 Times

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the long-standing territorial and fishing rights dispute surrounding Katchatheevu Island, claiming that the issue has been debated in Parliament for years and was not a sudden development.

He criticised former Prime Ministers from the Congress, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, for their handling of the issue, alleging that they showed indifference and gave away Indian fishermen's rights despite legal opinions suggesting otherwise.

"In the last 20 years, 6,184 Indian fishermen have been detained by Sri Lanka and 1175 Indian fishing vessels have been seized, detained or apprehended by Sri Lanka," Jaishankar explained background of the issue.

"Congress and DMK have approached this matter as though they have no responsibility on this. As though the issue has to be resolved by today's central government, there is no history to this," he said.

Jaishankar's statement came shortly after PM Narendra Modi criticised the DMK and Congress over the Katchatheevu Island issue, accusing the party of failing to safeguard Tamil Nadu's interests as per a report by Hindustan Times.

During the press conference, Jaishankar highlighted Nehru's 1961 observation dismissing Katchatheevu as a "little island" and expressed that it was seen as a nuisance to be quickly disposed of. He also mentioned Indira Gandhi's similar views on the issue.

He emphasised that the Katchatheevu issue has been a topic of ongoing discussion and correspondence between the Centre and the state government, with him personally replying to the chief minister on this matter at least 21 times.

Jaishankar criticised the DMK for its public stance against the agreement, alleging that its leader at the time, M Karunanidhi, was fully aware of and complicit in the agreement reached in 1974 between India and Sri Lanka.

He highlighted the Modi government's efforts to secure the release of Indian fishermen detained by Sri Lanka and stressed the need for a solution through dialogue with the Sri Lankan government.

Earlier, Modi had cited a news report suggesting that Karunanidhi had given his approval to the agreement despite the DMK's public opposition, accusing the party of double standards. He criticised the Congress and the DMK, calling them "family units" focused only on promoting their own interests.

Modi accused the Congress of weakening India's unity and integrity over the years and criticised the DMK for its alleged indifference to the interests of Tamil Nadu's fishermen.