Battle Over Katchatheevu: Political Ripples In Pre-Election Turbulence

With less than a month remaining until the pivotal Lok Sabha polls, Katchatheevu, an uninhabited island administered by Sri Lanka, emerges as a focal point of a heated political discourse. Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticizes the Congress, alleging that they 'handed over' Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka, thereby compromising India's integrity and interests. PM Modi's reproach echoes previous statements from 2023, where he questioned the Congress' decision to relinquish Katchatheevu, a territory historically contested between India and Sri Lanka. An RTI reply reveals that the Indira Gandhi government indeed transferred Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka in 1974. Initially disputed, Katchatheevu became a bone of contention as Indian fishermen were barred from fishing in its waters post-transfer, affecting the livelihoods of Tamil Nadu fishermen. In response to BJP's accusations, the Congress and DMK assert that BJP's lack of development in the region over the past decade undermines their sudden focus on historical issues like Katchatheevu. Tamil Nadu's significance in the upcoming elections is underscored, with BJP eyeing it crucial to achieve the NDA's ambitious target of 400 Lok Sabha seats. The question lingers: Will the Katchatheevu issue galvanize BJP's electoral prospects in the southern state?