Transfer of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka another 'historic dark chapter' of Congress rule: BJP

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Friday criticised the Congress over the transfer of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka in 1974, calling it another "historic dark chapter" of the Congress rule and alleged it compromised India's national interests.

Katchatheevu is an uninhabited island in the Palk Strait. India recognised Sri Lanka's sovereignty over the island in 1974.

BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said the transfer of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka marked another day in the Congress party's "calendar of surrender".

"Yesterday, we remembered the tragic chapter of the Emergency, and today marks another historic dark chapter in the Congress party's calendar of surrender.

"It was on this day in 1974 that the then Congress government ceded Katchatheevu, located near Tamil Nadu, from India to Sri Lanka. As a result, fishermen from Tamil Nadu continue to face numerous difficulties," he told reporters here.

He also referred to the Saint Anthony shrine on the island and claimed that "even if people hoist the Indian national flag on their boats, they are not permitted to visit it." Trivedi alleged that the Congress has a long history of "compromising" India's interests.

"The Congress party's calendar of surrender began in 1947 with the partition of India and its surrender before the Muslim League. It was followed by surrendering PoK to Pakistan in 1948, then the surrender of Aksai Chin to China in 1962. Assam too was almost surrendered, along with the surrender of Mansarovar," he said.

Referring to the transfer of Katchatheevu, he added, "That was followed by the surrender of Katchatheevu on June 26, 1974, and on June 28, it came under Sri Lanka's control." "This is a tragic chapter that today's generation should remember. The manner in which the Congress compromised India's national interests is what this day reminds us of," Trivedi said.