Katchateevu issue not settled: TN

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha on Monday said the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and Katchateevu issues with Sri Lanka cannot be treated as settled.

“The right of livelihood of our fishermen who historically and traditionally fish in the Palk Bay is continuously infringed upon by the Sri Lankan Navy. The historical rights were simply signed away as part of the ill-advised Indo-Sri Lankan agreements of 1974 and 1976 which also unilaterally ceded Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka without having any foresight or concern for the plight of our innocent fishermen,” she said in a letter to Prime Minister Nareendra Modi.

Stating that the validity of these agreements is the subject matter of a writ petition pending in the Supreme Court, Jayalalitha said her government has reiterated that IMBL and Katchatheevu issues were not settled.

“Only the retrieval of Katchatheevu will ensure the restoration of safety and security of our fishermen’s livelihood in the traditional waters of Palk Bay,” she said.

Emphasising that even though the Indian fishermen were set free from Sri Lankan jails, their 41 fishing craft and gear continue to be impounded, Jayalalitha alleged that the Sri Lankan government appears to be adopting a callous and deliberate strategy to ensure destruction of the boats and gear which are the primary means of livelihood of fishermen.