P Chidambaram
In a pointed retort to Union Minister S Jaishankar”s remarks on the Katchatheevu island dispute, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram questioned the foreign minister”s “somersault” on the issue. Chidambaram highlighted what he perceives as Jaishankar”s transformation from a diplomatically refined liberal to what he terms as “a mouthpiece of the RSS-BJP,” a transition he suggested will be “recorded in the annals of acrobatic sports”
This riposte comes hot on the heels of Jaishankar”s reaffirmation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi”s allegations against the Congress regarding the island dispute. Citing deliberations in Parliament spanning decades, Jaishankar asserted that both the Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi administrations displayed a lack of concern regarding Katchatheevu.
He alleged that the island was a “nuisance” for Nehru and said that it was during Indira Gandhi”s government that India gave up fishing rights near the island.
The issue gained renewed attention following revelations in a news report sourced from an RTI response acquired by Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai. Jaishankar said that the matter isn”t newfound but rather a “live issue”. The BJP seeks to leverage the recurring arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka to bolster its standing in the southern state, which has always rejected it on both Lok Sabha as well as assembly elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday criticised the Congress saying that the party gave away the Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974. “This has angered every Indian and reaffirmed in people’s minds — we can’t ever trust Congress! Weakening India’s unity, integrity and interests has been Congress’ way of working for 75 years and counting,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Addressing the matter, Chidambaram highlighted the historical context of fishermen detentions, adding that such incidents have occurred over the past five decades, with reciprocal detentions by India.
Chidambaram said, “It is true that Fishermen were detained in the last 50 years. Likewise, India has detained many SL fishermen. Every government has negotiated with Sri Lanka and freed our fishermen. This has happened when Mr Jaishankar was a foreign service officer and when he was Foreign Secretary and when he is Foreign Minister.”
The veteran from Tamil Nadu politician pointed out that successive governments, including during Jaishankar”s tenures in various capacities within the foreign service, have engaged in negotiations with Sri Lanka to secure the release of Indian fishermen.
“What has changed for Mr Jaishankar to launch a tirade against the Congress and DMK? Were not fishermen detained by Sri Lanka when Mr Vajpayee was PM and BJP was in power and in alliance with different political parties of TN? Were not fishermen detained by Sri Lanka when Mr Modi was in power since 2014?” he added.
Chidambaram then urged Jaishankar to refer to a specific RTI reply from January 27, 2015, during his stint as Foreign Minister, which seemingly justified India”s acknowledgment of Sri Lanka”s sovereignty over a disputed island.
“Will Foreign Minister Mr. Jaishankar please refer to the RTI reply dated 27-1-2015. I believe that Mr Jaishankar was the FM on 27-1-2015. The Reply justified the circumstances under which India acknowledged that a small island belonged to Sri Lanka. Why is the Foreign Minister and his ministry doing a somersault now?” asked Chidambaram.
Another Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also reminded Jaishankar of the reply given by the Ministry of External Affairs when Jaishankar was the Foreign Secretary.
“The MEA’s response to a RTI query on Katchatheevu in 2015 had said ‘This [Agreement] did not involve either acquiring or ceding of territory belonging to India since the area in question had never been demarcated. Under the Agreements, the Island of Katchatheevu lies on the Sri Lankan side of the India-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line.’ The easiest to hunt in a political expedition is a scapegoat. Who will it be in the MEA?” Ramesh wrote on X.
Taking a dig at Jaishankar”s political trajectory, who went from being a diplomat to joining the government, Chidambaram said, “How quickly can people change colours. From a suave liberal Foreign Service officer to a smart Foreign Secretary to a mouthpiece of the RSS-BJP, life and times of Mr Jaishankar will be recorded in the annals of acrobatic sports.”
Chidambaram further delved into the historical context, highlighting Indira Gandhi”s decision to acknowledge Sri Lanka”s sovereignty over the island, which facilitated the settlement of Tamil refugees in India, providing them with freedom and opportunities for over five decades.
“Why did Indira Gandhi acknowledge that it belonged to Sri Lanka? Millions of Tamils, as many as 6 lakh Tamils, were suffering in Sri Lanka. They had to come to India as refugees and settle here. As a result of this settlement, 6 lakh Tamils came to India. They have lived in this country for the last 50 years, their families are here. They enjoy freedom,” he said.
