How Indira Gandhi 'ceded' an island to Sri Lanka, and why it could turn into a big election debate
Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai has shed light on India's wavering approach to the Katchatheevu island dispute with Sri Lanka.
The decision to cede Katchatheevu has been a source of contention in Tamil Nadu, particularly for fishermen who continue to face arrest by Sri Lankan authorities. As the Lok Sabha elections near, the documents are likely to reignite the debate surrounding the island's ownership and the impact on Indian fishermen.
According to a TOI report, the documents show that Sri Lanka is making up for its small size by pursuing the 1.9 square kilometer of territory around 20 km from the Indian beach with tenacity. This is based on claims that New Delhi disputed for decades before finally giving in to. Soon after independence, Ceylon, then known as Sri Lanka, asserted that the Indian Navy, then known as the Royal Indian Navy, could not hold exercises on the island without its consent. The island hosted an exercise by the Ceylon Air Force in October of 1955.
Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, consistently pressed its claim on the island located 20km off the Indian shore. Despite initial challenges from India, Sri Lanka's determined stance stands in contrast to India's indecisiveness.
Nehru's Dismissive Attitude
The documents show that then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru downplayed the issue, even considering giving up India's claim due to the island's perceived insignificance. This approach, however, contradicted the opinion of the Attorney General, who believed India had a stronger case based on historical
