Jaya tells PM: Get back Katchatheevu for fishermen

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday urged PM Manmohan Singh to take steps to retrieve Katchatheevu island, which was ceded to Sri Lanka to end attacks on Indian fishermen.

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday urged PM Manmohan Singh to take steps to retrieve Katchatheevu island, which was ceded to Sri Lanka to end attacks on Indian fishermen.

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Until an agreement in 1974, under which the 285-acre island, which is in the Palk Bay off Rameshwaram, went to Sri Lanka, she said Indian fishermen were enjoying fishing rights in and around the island.

Demanding the revoking of the 1974 agreement on the grounds that it was never approved by both houses of Parliament, Jayalalithaa said Katchatheevu should be taken back so that Indian fishermen can have a “decent catch” when they venture into the sea and not face attacks from Sri Lankan Navy.

She wanted regular Tuticorin-Colombo ferry service, which began after 30 years on Monday, to be stopped.

Jayalalithaa said the PM assured her that India had impressed upon Colombo that such attacks on fishermen should stop.