New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized the Congress for surrendering the Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka during the tenure of the Indira Gandhi government in 1974, stating that the party showed no remorse for its decision. Reacting to a recent Right to Information (RTI) report exposing the decision, Shah accused the Congress of having divisive intentions and undermining India's interests.
In a post on X, Shah expressed astonishment at the Congress's actions, emphasizing their lack of regret over the surrender of Katchatheevu. He highlighted instances where Congress leaders either spoke about dividing the nation or denigrated Indian culture and traditions, suggesting a consistent pattern of working against India's unity and integrity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier criticized the Congress for the same decision, stating that it had angered the Indian populace and reinforced doubts about the party's trustworthiness. Modi emphasized that weakening India's unity, integrity, and interests had been a consistent feature of Congress governance over the years.
The Katchatheevu island, situated between Rameswaram (India) and Sri Lanka, had historically been utilized by fishermen from both countries. However, in 1974, then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi accepted Katchatheevu as Sri Lankan territory under the "Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime Agreement." This agreement, along with the 1974 Agreement regarding historic waters between Sri Lanka and India in the Palk Strait and the Palk Bay, formalized Sri Lanka's sovereignty over the island.
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