Turn Vikrant into martyrs' memorial, say MPs

A group of newly elected BJP and Shiv Sena MPs from Maharashtra has urged the central government to turn INS Vikrant, the country's first aircraft carrier, into a martyrs' memorial.

In a letter to Defence Secretary R.K. Mathur, the 18 MPs said: "Save the Vikrant, convert it into a war museum 'Shahid Smarak', stop the scrapping process, stop it from being sent to Darukhana scrapyard, and reconsider and revive the Vikrant Shahid Smarak Project."

The fate of INS Vikrant has swung between hope and despair since it was decommissioned in January 1997.

The Supreme Court May 16 allowed the Indian Navy to move the old vessel, once the pride of India, from Mumbai naval dockyard to Darukhana ship breaking yard.

This was after the government told the court that the Vikrant was in a condition of extreme obsolescence and deterioration and could no longer be repaired or refurbished.

The BJP and Shiv Sena MPs who have revived the "Save Vikrant" appeal include Kirit Somaiya, Gopal Shetty, Rahul Shewale, Chantaman Wanaga, Dilip Gandhi, Harishchandra Patil, Shivaji Adhalrao Patil, Sanjay Kaka Patil, Poonam Mahajan, Raosaheb Dhanve, Hansraj Ahir Raksha Khadase, Anil Shirole and Sunil Gaikwad.

Activist Kiran Paigankar had moved the apex court opposing the government move to relocate the Vikrant to the Darukhana ship breaking yard, and questioned the vessel's safety in its new berthing place.

Paigankar sought the conversion of INS Vikrant into a museum. The court, issuing notice on his plea May 5, ordered status quo.

After the government pleaded that it only wanted to relocate INS Vikrant and not dismantle it, the court May 16 allowed it to be moved.

The IB Commercial Pvt Ltd bought INS Vikrant for Rs.63 crore in an auction in January 2014 after the Maharashtra government pleaded lack of funds to maintain it as a museum.

The keel of the aircraft carrier, earlier known as HMS Hercules in the British Royal Navy, was laid Oct 14, 1943 and it was launched in 1945. It was bought by India in 1957 and commissioned in the navy Feb 16, 1959.