New Delhi. The decision of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to hand over Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka in 1974 is now becoming the main issue during the Lok Sabha elections. The island is located between Neduntheevu in Sri Lanka and Rameshwaram in India and has traditionally been used by fishermen from both sides.
Tamil Nadu BJP President K. On the basis of information received through RTI, Annamalai accused Congress and DMK of colluding to hand over Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka. Regarding this, in the year 1974, senior journalist Brij Khandelwal associated with IANS had filed a petition in the court against this agreement of the then Central Government with Sri Lanka.
On November 25, 1974, this petition was much discussed as Brij Khandelwal vs Union of India. Now that the genie of Katchatheevu island has once again come out of the bottle, Brij Khandelwal is once again in the news. His petition was rejected by the court at that time saying that it did not affect his interest in any way. This agreement of the government will improve relations between the two countries. In such a situation, Brij Khandelwal expressed his opinion on the petition that had been filed at that time regarding Katchatheevu Island and the current situation.
In an exclusive conversation with IANS, senior journalist Brij Khandelwal said that there was a little controversy in 1973-74. I came to know that Indira Gandhi’s government had given a small island which is close to Rameshwaram. It is only 25 kilometers away from the Indian coastal border, the government had decided to donate it and in 1974, the government handed over this Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka by making an agreement. I felt bad about this, because how can you donate to someone who is an integral part of any country.
Even the Constitution does not allow you to give any part of your country to anyone. You know that the entire Mahabharata happened because the Kauravas refused to give even land equal to the tip of a needle to the Pandavas. We showed so much generosity that we donated a piece of our country just like that. I then felt that this was wrong, unconstitutional.
Brij Khandelwal further said that although today our relations with Sri Lanka are better, but tomorrow when our relations deteriorate with it, then you cannot even imagine how dangerous this island can be for our country from a strategic point of view. What will happen if it comes into the hands of an enemy country?
He said that being troubled by this, I filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, demanding that this agreement be stopped and this entire process be dismissed as illegal. Because no one has any right to give a part of India to anyone.
There was a debate on this in the court and the problem arose when it came to how your interests are being affected by this. He said that then I told in the court that I am a secular man and go to worship at various places. This is my fundamental right. In such a situation, my fundamental rights are being affected by this. The court did not accept this argument. The reason behind this was that emergency was in force and fundamental rights were rejected. The matter was settled here.
He said that I want this island to come back to India because there is no justification for it being near Sri Lanka, our fishermen are being caught every day. Due to which their freedom is being affected. This step was unconstitutional in my view at that time, so it should be corrected.
He said that this was not a mistake of the Congress at that time but it was a betrayal of the country. Because, how can you donate a piece of the country? On one hand, you are thinking of taking back the part occupied by China and Pakistan and on the other hand, you are donating the part which is yours to someone.
He said that this issue that has been made is absolutely the right issue because we have an emotional connection with it. South India has a connection with it. Tamil fishermen are being caught every day. For this, the government should talk to the Sri Lankan government and take back this island, no matter what happens.
Actually, Katchatheevu Island spread over 280 acres in the Palk Strait which connects the Bay of Bengal to the Arabian Sea. It was a part of India till 1976. It was handed over to Sri Lanka by Indira Gandhi’s government under an agreement. Information received from RTI which was given by K. Annamalai shared that, according to him, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had made an agreement with Sri Lankan President Srimavo Bandaranaike in 1974.
Under this agreement, Katchatheevu island was formally handed over to Sri Lanka. Regarding this, it was told that Indira Gandhi had made this agreement in view of the Lok Sabha campaign in Tamil Nadu. In such a situation, the official documents and records of the Parliament clearly show how India lost the battle for control of this island to a smaller country.
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Tags: Indira Gandhi, Loksabha Election 2024, Loksabha Elections, Narendra modi, sri lanka, tamil nadu
FIRST PUBLISHED: April 1, 2024, 22:40 IST