New Delhi: Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar remarked on Monday that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru regarded Katchatheevu island as inconsequential and deemed it a bothersome matter, expressing his perspective on the issue.
Regarding the Katchatheevu matter, EAM Jaishankar elucidated, “In a statement attributed to the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru in May 1961, he conveyed, ‘I do not consider this small island significant at all, and I would readily relinquish our claim to it. I am averse to prolonging such matters indefinitely, and their repeated discussion in parliament.‘ Thus, to Pandit Nehru, this was a diminutive island, lacking significance; he perceived it as a nuisance… For him, the sooner it was relinquished, the better…”
He further noted, “This perspective persisted into the tenure of Indira Gandhi as well.”
Jaishankar asserted that prime ministers affiliated with the Congress Party exhibited apathy towards Katchatheevu island, surrendering Indian fishermen’s rights despite dissenting legal opinions. Notably, figures like Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi referred to Katchatheevu, ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974 under a maritime boundary agreement, as a “little island” and “little rock,” he conveyed during a press conference, emphasizing that the issue wasn’t sudden but persistently relevant.
He highlighted that the matter has been recurrently raised in Parliament and subjected to extensive correspondence between the Centre and state government. Jaishankar disclosed that he responded to the chief minister’s queries at least 21 times.
Critiquing the DMK’s public stance against the agreement, Jaishankar asserted that its leader and former chief minister M Karunanidhi was fully briefed about the accord, initially established in 1974 between India and Sri Lanka.
He criticized the Congress and DMK for portraying themselves as unrelated to the issue, despite their involvement in its genesis. According to him, the DMK actively collaborated with the Congress in 1974 and subsequent events, contributing to the current situation.
Jaishankar highlighted that over two decades, 6,184 Indian fishermen were detained by Sri Lanka, with 1,175 fishing vessels seized. He emphasized the Modi government’s efforts to secure the release of Indian fishermen, stressing the need for constructive dialogue with the Sri Lankan government to find a resolution.
Jaishankar lamented the misinformation prevailing among the people of Tamil Nadu regarding the issue and expressed his intention to address the matter to enlighten the masses.