Madurai (Tamil Nadu) [India], April 5 : Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to broach the issue of the retrieval of Kachchatheevu Island with the Sri Lankan leaders during his ongoing visit to the neighbouring country.
He alleged that Sri Lanka "destroyed" the purpose for which the island was given to it. He added that now the neighbouring country is using the Kachchatheevu Island for "to kill our fishermen and arrest them."
"We need to understand that Kachchatheevu is a long-drawn issue. In the 1970s, when Singhalis were attacking Tamilians, at that time, former PM Indira Gandhi intervened and a diplomatic team was sent to save the 6 lakh Tamilians from Sri Lanka...At that time, to smoothen the process, diplomats suggested that Kachchatheevu, which was under the control of the Indian government, should be given to Sri Lanka out of goodwill...," Tagore told ANI.
"Now, PM Modi is travelling to Sri Lanka, so he should claim the land of Kachchatheevu because the purpose for which the Kachchatheevu was given has been destroyed by the Sri Lankan authorities. Now they are using the same place to kill our fishermen, arrest our fishermen, and take away our fishermen's boat," he added.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution on April 2, urging the Centre to take steps to retrieve Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka to protect the traditional fishing rights of Indian fishermen in the Palk Bay area. Later, Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inform him of the resolution. The Chief Minister also urged the PM to immediately review the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement and take steps to retrieve Katchatheevu Island.
In the letter, the Chief Minister also urged PM Modi to hold talks with the Sri Lankan Government to get all imprisoned fishermen from India released along with their boats on a goodwill basis during his official visit to Sri Lanka
PM Modi is on a State visit to Sri Lanka from April 4 to 6 at the invitation of Sri Lankan President Disanayaka. His arrival in Colombo on Friday marked his first visit to Sri Lanka since 2019.