Historical Background of the Katchatheevu Island Dispute
Spread over 285 acres, Katchatheevu Island lies in Palk Strait, splitting Sri Lanka from India. More precisely, it lies between the Indian and Sri Lankan oceans. It exists 33 kilometers from the Indian coast, spanning 1.6 kilometers in length and 300 meters in breadth. The exact site of it is northeast of Rameswaram. It is nearly 62 km from Jaffna, Sri Lanka. On this island, there is only one building- a church that dates back to the 20th century and was built by the British. The pastors from India and Sri Lanka run this church, St. Anthony.
Legal Challenges and Political Controversies
Following a volcanic eruption in the fourteenth century, this island was formed by the lava that the volcano discharged. Early in the Middle Ages, the Jaffna Kingdom of Sri Lanka governed the island. Later in the seventeenth century, Ramnad Zamindari took control over it. In 1921, India and Sri Lanka took over Katchatheevu Island and enforced fishing regulations due to its fish-rich environment. Katchatheev was deemed Sri Lanka following a survey, signifying it was accepted as a part of Sri Lanka. In this scenario, India raised the issue of the Ramnad Empire and established sovereignty over Katchatheevu Island in the face of the British authorities. The dispute was not resolved till 1974 despite being brought up repeatedly and remaining unsettled.
The treaty helped make it possible for fishermen of Sri Lanka and India to fish in the waters surrounding Katchatheevu. However, when the Sri Lankan Civil War began, situations got more complex as the Sri Lankan Navy had to enact strict laws to stop smuggling by outfits like the LTTE. Given these challenges, the sole structure on the island-St. Antony’s Chruch kept receiving visitors from both nations, reflecting the island’s cultural significance.
In the ensuing years, tensions kept going as illegal poaching by Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters rose. Efforts by the Sri Lankan government to address this access met with rejection, leading to diplomatic clashes between the two countries. The issue came to a head in 2011 when the Tamil Nadu government petitioned the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of the 1974 and 1976 agreements.
The court’s verdict stressed the need for parliamentary consent in cases of territory ceding, quoting the precedent set in the Berubari case. The legal status of Katchatheevu is again under question as an outcome of this ruling, with political leaders in Tamil Nadu advocating for its reintegration under Indian sovereignty. The Indian leadership, however, upheld its stance and stated that no territory transfer took place.
Cultural Unity Amidst Diplomatic Tensions
With the ongoing crisis, St. Antony’s Chruch continued to serve as a sign of cultural unity, with Christian priests from India and Sri Lanka overseeing worship services. Pilgrims, mostly from India, continued to come to the island for the annual church festival, allowed by the agreement between the two governments, which put away the need for passports or visas for Indian citizens visiting Katchatheevu.
Indira Gandhi’s Role in the Island’s Transfer
The BJP alleges that back in 1974, the 1.9-kilometer-square, positioned 20 kilometers from the Indian coast in Palk Strait, was handed over to Sri Lanka under the Indira Gandhi government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has intensified his attacks upon the Congress over the partition of India and pointed out that Sri Lanka was given Katchatheevu Island in 1974 during the Indira Gandhi regime. The Prime Minister stated that the DMK government in Tamil Nadu has been constantly advocating for Katchatheevu’s restoration back to India.
PM Narendra Modi is constantly criticizing the Congress over Katchatheevu island regularly. Congress is often referred to by PM Modi as a party that separates or breaks down the nation. In 1974, the “India-Sri Lankan Maritime Agreement” witnessed then-prime minister Indira Gandhi acknowledge Katchatheevu as a province of Sri Lanka. Katchatheevu Island was transferred to Sri Lanka by Indira Gandhi as part of the India-Sri Lankan Maritime Agreement. She felt that by carrying out this move, India could improve relations with Sri Lanka.
Although this recognition did not come without disagreement, the critics, mainly in Tamil Nadu, raised concerns over the legality of the transfer, debating that it required parliamentary ratification. Despite these obstacles, the Indian government made its position, saying that no territory was given up, and thus no constitutional amendment was needed.
Current Status and Future Implications
In a nutshell, the complex nature of territorial disputes, historical narratives, and cultural ties that impact relations between India and Sri Lanka is conveyed in the story of Katchatheevu. Even if these issues have been tried to be solved via laws and diplomatic agreements, the island seems to be a factor of strife and cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.