#238: Katchatheevu controversy

All pointers wrt. UPSC are here!

Katchatheevu is back in national news!

What's special about this island? Why is PM Modi is looking at it now?🧐

Learn everything about it here👇🏼

1. Where's Katchatheevu?

• 285 acres island in Palk Strait b/w 🇮🇳🇱🇰
• 33km from 🇮🇳, 62km from 🇱🇰 (Jaffna)
• No source of freshwater and thus inhabitable
• St. Anthony's Church = only structure on the island

This church sees 2500 pilgrimages from India annually, most of who are from Tamil Nadu

2. History

• Early Medieval: Jaffna Kingdom
• 17th century: Ramnad kingdom🇮🇳
• u/ Madras Presidency in British Rule
• Since 1921: contested claims by both India & Sri Lanka

India controlled this island till '74

• 1974: Indira Bandaranaike pact → island to Sri Lanka in '76

Wait, why? What's the reason?🤔

Pact stated👇🏼

”in accordance with historical evidence, international legal principles, & precedents w/ boundary 1mile to west of uninhabited island & set boundary 1 mile west of the uninhabited island”

It's a long debate with Ramnad kingdom collecting taxes from this 'last post'

3. Importance for India

a) Fishermen
b) Maritime Security
c) Political implications

Fishermen

• Waters rich in Fish resources
• Traditional access to its waters
• Place to dry the nets in mid of water

Ceding territory led to conflicts to a point where PM Wickramasinghe said (2015):

"Indian fishermen risked being shot near Katchatheevu"

b) Maritime security

• Maritime strategic location in Palk Strait
• Island control gives strategic leverage

..no points for guessing that China is interested in its control!😮

Political implications

• Tamilians most impacted (read graphic)
• Consistent efforts from TN govt. to get it back
• GoI in SC (Jan '14)

"Sri Lanka has sovereign control over island"😏

What's the issue now? Pact is said to not been approved by parliament

But wait, why did India give it away w/o parliament approval?

Simple answer: Need for allies post first nuclear test

How did it make to news now?

K Annamalai's RTI saw PM Modi himself raising this issue One tweet on 31st March and other on April 01

Wonder how you shall opinionate on this as an aspirant?

Always know that any critical matter like this is contextual.

However, the scrutiny of Parliament is necessary in matters of sovereignty.

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