BJP slams Congress 'surrender' ofslams Congress 'surrender' of Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974
The BJP criticized the Congress on June 26, 2026, for what it called the 1974 'surrender' of Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka without consulting stakeholders during its rule.
The party labeled the transfer a 'dark chapter' in Congress history, highlighting the lack of parliamentary approval and stakeholder confidence. This resurgence of the Katchatheevu issue matters as it intensifies domestic political tensions between India's major parties over territorial sovereignty and historical accountability.
BJP
The BJP frames the 1974 transfer of Katchatheevu as a 'surrender' and 'dark chapter' because Congress failed to consult stakeholders or secure parliamentary approval, viewing it as a nationalist betrayal that weakened India's territorial claims.
Kerala Congress Government
Kerala's Congress-led UDF government, while not directly commenting on Katchatheevu in these reports, faces criticism for unrelated policy decisions like slashing liquor excise duty, suggesting broader political vulnerability amid BJP's territorial attacks.
- The 1974 agreement was signed by Prime Indira Gandhi and Sri Lankan President Sirimavo Bandaranayake without Indian parliamentary ratification.
- Katchatheevu has no permanent population but remains a symbolic site for Tamil fishermen from both nations.
- Tamil Nadu politicians have periodically demanded Katchatheevu's return, citing cultural and fishing rights in the Palk Strait.
