As Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a state visit to Sri Lanka, political pressure is mounting back home over the decades-old Katchatheevu Island dispute.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to PM Modi, urging him to address the issue of Katchatheevu—a small island in the Palk Strait that was handed over to Sri Lanka through bilateral agreements in 1974 and 1976. The Tamil Nadu Assembly also passed a resolution earlier this week, calling for the retrieval of the island to protect the fishing rights of Indian fishermen.

The island, though uninhabited, has long served as a resting and prayer spot for Tamil Nadu fishermen. Its strategic and cultural importance has made it a point of contention, especially in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape.

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari has also weighed in, calling the matter a “serious concern” for Indian citizens and demanding that the Prime Minister raise the issue during his diplomatic talks.

The controversy re-emerged after PM Modi previously criticized the Congress government for “callously” giving away Katchatheevu in the 1970s. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also commented recently, saying the issue had been kept “hidden too long from public gaze.”

The Katchatheevu dispute dates back to colonial times, with both India and Sri Lanka historically claiming rights over the island. It was originally part of the Ramnad kingdom (now Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu) and later became contested after India and Sri Lanka gained independence.

As diplomatic ties between the two nations are in focus, the political spotlight on Katchatheevu is once again intensifying.