BJP marks Katchatheevu anniversary, slams Congress over 1974 Sri Lanka decision

Newdelhi,UPDATED: Jun 26, 2026 14:34 IST

The BJP on Friday slammed the Congress over India recognising Sri Lanka's sovereignty over Katchatheevu in 1974, calling it another "historic dark chapter" of Congress rule and alleging that it compromised India's national interests.

Katchatheevu is an uninhabited island in the Palk Strait. The BJP said the issue continues to affect fishermen from Tamil Nadu and used the anniversary of the 1974 decision to attack the Congress.

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.

Referring to the Saint Anthony shrine on the island, Trivedi claimed that "even if people hoist the Indian national flag on their boats, they are not permitted to visit it". He also 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 again to 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."

He said, "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."

The BJP's criticism centred on the 1974 recognition of Sri Lanka's sovereignty over Katchatheevu, with Trivedi describing it as part of what he called the Congress party's "calendar of surrender" and linking it to the difficulties faced by Tamil Nadu fishermen.

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