Tamil Nadu CM Stalin Criticizes Centre Over Inaction on Fishermen Issue and Katchatheevu

Chennai, April 7, 2025 — Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin delivered a sharp critique in the State Assembly on Monday, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to address the long-standing concerns of Tamil Nadu’s fishermen and the retrieval of the Katchatheevu islet during his recent visit to Sri Lanka.

“There is no evidence to suggest that the Prime Minister raised the pressing issues of Katchatheevu or the release of Indian fishermen during his Sri Lanka visit,” Stalin stated. “This clearly indicates that the sentiments and demands of Tamil Nadu have been overlooked. It is both regrettable and disappointing.”

Despite what he described as the central government’s apathy, the Chief Minister reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the welfare of the state’s fishing community. Among the measures announced was the construction of a new fishing harbour at Thangachimadam in Rameswaram.

Stalin’s remarks come in the wake of a resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly last week, which called on the Union Government to take immediate steps to retrieve Katchatheevu — the small islet ceded to Sri Lanka through bilateral agreements in 1974 and 1976 — as a permanent solution to protect the traditional fishing rights of Tamil Nadu’s coastal communities.

The resolution also urged Prime Minister Modi to engage in diplomatic dialogue with the Sri Lankan government for the release of Indian fishermen currently imprisoned and for the return of their seized fishing vessels.

The Katchatheevu issue and recurring arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy have remained contentious topics in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape for decades. With rising pressure from opposition parties and public sentiment alike, the Chief Minister’s remarks have once again brought the matter to the forefront of national political discourse.