How did Indira Gandhi give Kachathivu Island to Sri Lanka? Answer found in RTI, Indira Gandhi Govt Gave Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka? Row erupts over RTI Details – News18 Kannada Achi-News

New Delhi (March 31): Amid the Lok Sabha elections, the issue of handing over Katchathivu island in Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka has reached a fever pitch. An RTI response revealed that the then Indira Gandhi government handed over the island of Katchathivu to Sri Lanka under an agreement in 1974. Official documents and parliamentary documents reveal how the then Indian government lost control of the island in the Pak River to a smaller country. On the other hand, the Sri Lankan (then Ceylon) government made every effort to grab the island. After revelations about Kachchathevu Island through RTI, the political turmoil has intensified.

Clashes on Kachchathivu Island amid Lok Sabha Elections

Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai had filed an RTI application regarding this island. In response to this, the documents handed over the island of Kachathivu to the then Sri Lankan government. According to records, this island is about 20 km from the coast of India. Located remotely. Its size is 1.9 square km. There are According to reports, after India’s independence, Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, has been continuously claiming the island.

However, the Delhi government opposed it for decades. Despite this, after independence the Indian Navy (then the Royal Indian Navy) could not conduct exercises on the island without Ceylon’s permission. At the same time, in October 1955, the Ceylon Air Force conducted its exercises on the island.

Former Prime Minister Nehru said he had no hesitation in giving up his claim on the island

Mindful of Ceylon’s claim and continued opposition from India, former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on May 10, 1961 dismissed the matter as irrelevant in a minute. He wrote that I would not hesitate to give up my claim on this island. I do not respect this little island and have no qualms about giving up my claim on it. He said, “I don’t want this dispute to continue indefinitely and raise it again in Parliament.”

There were many important aspects related to an island in RTI

This statement of Pandit Nehru was made by the then Commonwealth Secretary, YD This is part of the note prepared by Gundevia. It was shared by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in 1968 with an informal advisory committee of the Senate as background. The background covers India’s response up to 1974. However, after this it formally renounced its claim to the island completely. The Ministry of External Affairs said that the legal aspect of the question of leaving Kachchathevu Island is very complex. This question has been considered in detail in the Ministry. However, no clear conclusion can be drawn as to the strength of the sovereignty of India or Ceylon.

Kachchativu Island was formed by a volcanic eruption

In 1960, the then Attorney General, MC According to Setalvad, India had a strong claim to the island, which was formed by a volcanic eruption. He wrote a legal authority stating that the zamindari rights of this island were transferred to Raja Ramnad (Ramanathapura) on behalf of the East India Company. Accordingly, after judging all the evidence, it appears that India has sovereignty over the island. After the abolition of zamindari rights, the rights held in Madras state were exercised continuously and uninterruptedly on behalf of the king independently from 1875 to 1948. No taxes were paid to Colombo during this period.

Colombo continuously claimed the island

However, the claims and documents that are being made by Colombo by the Ministry of External Affairs (Legal and Treaties) Joint Secretary K. Krishnarao concluded that India has a good legal case for the island. It can be used to acquire fishing rights. Because hundreds of Indian fishermen have been arrested around the island by the Sri Lankan Navy. However, in 1960, after Colombo asserted a strong claim to the island, K Krishnarao wrote that India had a better legal case. This can be argued quite strongly. I’m not saying we don’t have a case.

Indira’s government was surrounded by the opposition in Parliament

Gundevia was also important, not considering this uninhabited island with a real church. In 1968 he also opposed the risk of being handed over to an advisory committee by the MEA. In the same year, the opposition raised questions about the reluctance of the Indira Gandhi government to confront Sri Lanka. Because Ceylon is continuously strengthening its right on the island. During a debate in Parliament, the opposition raised questions about suspicions that the transfer of the islands was discussed in secret between Indira Gandhi and her Ceylon counterpart, Dudley Senanayak, during their visit in 1968. There were calls for a discussion about this and a discussion took place.

Meanwhile, members of the opposition party pointed out that the statement of Ceylon Prime Minister Senanayak in his parliament and the map he presented to the local authorities showed the island of Kachchathevu as their territory. The opposition raised questions about this and criticized the government’s approach. The Indian government, however, had denied signing over the island, stressing that it was a disputed area and that India’s claim had to be balanced with the need for good bilateral relations. MEA Deputy Minister Surendra Pal Singh’s response is significant.

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