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“It Was The Right Decision” – TNCC Chief Selvaperunthagai Defends Indira Gandhi’s 1974 Decision To Cede Katchatheevu Island, While Supporting Resolution To Reclaim It In TN Assembly

The Commune

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai has reiterated that there was nothing wrong with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s decision to cede the uninhabited Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974. However, the party now supports the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, urging the Central government to take steps to reclaim the island.

Speaking to reporters on 2 April 2025, outside the Assembly, Selvaperunthagai emphasized that Indira Gandhi merely transferred 282 acres of barren land, which lacked even drinking water, in exchange for a much larger area of land. He urged the media to consider both agreements, not just the one involving Katchatheevu. When questioned if he still deemed the decision acceptable today, he firmly defended it, asserting that it was the right decision then and remains so even now.

Selvaperunthagai said, “Journalists, please do your research. Everyone standing here is well-educated. How many lakhs of acres did Indira Gandhi secure for India by giving up a small parcel of 282 acres of rain-fed land that doesn’t even have drinking water? Don’t focus on just one agreement; look at two agreements.”
When further questioned about whether the decision taken at that time was correct, he raised his voice and responded, “Even today, it is the right decision. We have not retracted anything. It was right then, and it is right now. No fisherman has ever said that retrieving Katchatheevu will allow them to fish freely without their nets being cut or boats being damaged. Reclaiming it is our responsibility, and there is no disagreement on that. The nation will eventually understand that Indira Gandhi did not make a wrong decision.”

He also highlighted that Indira Gandhi played a crucial role in securing vast areas of land for India through the Wadge Bank agreement, which brought valuable mineral resources to the country.

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