The Indian Supreme Court has heard that retrieving the small island of Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka will impossible, reported the Times of India.
"The island was given to Sri Lanka on the basis of a bilateral agreement in 1974. To retrieve it now, we have to go to war," attorney general Mukul Rohatgi told the court.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and opposition leader M Karunanidhi are presenting petitions to the Supreme Court next week, calling for a retrieval of the uninhabited island in the Palk Strait.
Tamil Nadu’s assembly some years ago unanimously passed a resolution moved by Jayalalithaa, calling on the government of India to take “immediate steps to retrieve Katchatheevu Island ceded in 1970 to Sri Lanka".
Katchatheevu has been used by fishermen of both countries for decades, however Tamil Nadu fishermen are routinely arrested and harassed by the Sri Lankan Navy.
See our earlier posts:
Indian Prime Minister to discuss solution to fishermen issue (20 August 2014)
38 Indian fishermen arrested (22 July 2014)
SL navy arrest 39 Tamil Nadu fishermen (16 July 2014)
Jaya urges Modi to secure release of 64 fishermen arrest by SL navy (25 June 2014)
Jayalalithaa slams renewed fishermen arrests by Sri Lanka (19 June 2014)
India committed to 'permanent solution' over fishermen arrests(16 June 2014)
Sri Lanka releases fishermen as Jaya calls for 'strong response'(09 June 2014)
Sri Lankan Navy arrests dozens of Indian fishermen (08 June 2014)
Sri Lanka releases Tamil Nadu fishermen amidst condemnation form Jayalalithaa (05 June 2014)
Jaya urges Modi to take 'strong and robust' response to fishermen arrest (01 Jun 2014)
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