Overview
- BJP leaders renewed public accusations that the 1974 India–Sri Lanka agreement that placed Katchatheevu under Sri Lankan sovereignty was done without Tamil Nadu’s consent and questioned whether proper constitutional process was followed.
- The 1974 pact formally recognised Sri Lankan sovereignty over the uninhabited 285-acre island and fixed the maritime boundary between the two countries.
- The ministry of external affairs restated that no talks are under way to allow fishing near Katchatheevu and that India pursues the safety and release of detained Tamil Nadu fishermen through diplomatic channels and the Joint Working Group on Fisheries.
- Tamil Nadu fishermen remain central to the dispute because they are periodically detained by Sri Lankan authorities after alleged crossings of the maritime boundary, a human-cost issue that BJP leaders used to frame their attack.
- Coverage shows political contrast in tone with BJP outlets emphasising blame of the Congress and national humiliation while mainstream reports and the ministry focus on current diplomatic mechanisms rather than any policy reversal.