Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi has blamed the ceding of Katchatheevu as the primary reason for the hardships faced by Tamil fishermen.
In an official statement, he mentioned that during his visit to Rameswaram today, he met and interacted with the fishermen community members who continue to suffer due to this long-standing issue.
Governor Ravi emphasized that the 1974 agreement between India and Sri Lanka regarding Katchatheevu was highly unjust and has had a severe impact on the impoverished fishermen of Tamil Nadu.
As a result of this agreement, Tamil fishermen lost their traditional fishing rights in the waters surrounding Katchatheevu. He accused both the Indian government and the Tamil Nadu government, which were in power at the time, of committing a grave mistake by allowing this to happen.
Since 1974, Tamil fishermen have faced continuous hardships. They have been repeatedly harassed by the Sri Lankan navy. Many fishermen have been arrested while fishing in the disputed waters, their boats have been seized, and their livelihoods have been severely affected.
Governor Ravi stressed the need for a permanent solution to this long-standing issue, urging both the central and state governments to work together. Instead of politicizing the matter or merely blaming the central government, he suggested that the Tamil Nadu government should adopt a constructive approach to resolve the crisis, which would bring relief to the affected fishermen.
Furthermore, he called for a deeper analysis of the events surrounding the 1974 agreement, including the political circumstances at that time, the role of the Indian and Tamil Nadu governments, and the decisions that led to this situation. He pointed out that the responsibility for this mistake does not lie solely with the central government but also with the political parties that were part of the ruling coalition back then. Since the current ruling party in Tamil Nadu was part of that coalition at the time, it must also provide a clear explanation regarding its role in the matter, Governor R.N. Ravi stated.
