The decades-old dispute over Katchatheevu returned to the political spotlight on Friday after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused the Congress of transferring the island to Sri Lanka without consulting Tamil Nadu. He alleged the 1974 agreement continues to affect Indian fishermen, many of whom are detained after allegedly crossing the maritime boundary.
The remarks reopen a long-running political debate over the India-Sri Lanka maritime agreement and the rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen. Dubey also questioned the constitutional process followed during the transfer and levelled allegations against the Congress leadership.
In a post on X titled “The Dark Chapter of Congress 102”, the BJP MP claimed former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi “handed over India’s Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka as a gift.”
“Because of this island’s handover, every day our fishermen from Tamil Nadu are caught by the Sri Lankan government, thrown into jail, and tortured,” Dubey wrote.
कांग्रेस का काला अध्याय
102. 26 जून 1974 इंदिरा गांधी जी ने भारत का कचुचातिवू द्वीप श्रीलंका को दान दे दिया,इस द्वीप के दान देने के कारण प्रत्येक दिन हमारे तमिलनाडु के मछुआरों को श्रीलंका सरकार पकड़कर जेल भेजती है,यातना देती है ।वैश्विक नेता बनने के होड़ में पहली बार 1957 में… pic.twitter.com/wda3GkLg1O— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) June 26, 2026
BJP MP questions 1974 Katchatheevu agreement
Dubey alleged that the decision was taken without the consent of the Tamil Nadu government. He claimed former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi was not consulted before the agreement was signed.
According to Dubey, the process began during the tenure of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
“In the race to become a global leader, it was first in 1957 that Nehru Ji decided to give this island to Sri Lanka. In 1961, Nehru Ji wanted to sign the agreement, but the Foreign Ministry and Law Ministry opposed it. After his death in 1967, Indira Gandhi Ji restarted this initiative. Tamil Nadu was not ready,” he wrote.
He further alleged that on June 20, 1974, the then Foreign Secretary was sent to Chennai to pressure the Tamil Nadu administration before the agreement was finalised with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
Dubey also questioned whether the transfer complied with constitutional provisions.
“The Constitution says that any law to give land to a foreign entity must be passed in Parliament… But the Nehru-Gandhi family has no regard for the Constitution, the Supreme Court, or the plight of the suffering people,” he said.
Katchatheevu agreement and fishermen issue
The India-Sri Lanka agreement signed in 1974 formally placed the uninhabited 285-acre Katchatheevu Island in the Palk Strait under Sri Lankan sovereignty while defining the maritime boundary between the two countries.
The issue has remained politically sensitive in Tamil Nadu because of concerns over the arrest of Indian fishermen accused of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, there is currently no proposal under discussion between India and Sri Lanka to permit Indian fishermen to fish in waters near Katchatheevu.
The ministry has said that representations from the Tamil Nadu government largely relate to securing the release of Indian fishermen detained by Sri Lankan authorities.
It has also maintained that the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen remain a priority and that the matter continues to be raised with Sri Lanka through diplomatic channels and bilateral mechanisms, including the Joint Working Group on Fisheries.