Govt should share details of seized merchant vessel: BJP

BJP today asked the government to come out with complete details of the captured merchant vessel carrying unauthorised arms and ammunition in Indian waters, saying this is a matter of serious concern post-26/11 and piracy needs to be checked effectively.
The main Opposition alleged that the government has been virtually silent on the captured vessel which had British, Estonian, Ukrainian, as well as Indians nationals on board.
BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said only "sketchy reports" have come out in the open about MV Seaman Guard Ohio, a ship registered in Sierra Leone in Africa, with 10 crew members and 25 armed guards. The vessel was captured and brought to Tuticorin sea port in Tamil Nadu yesterday.

"Till date, the legal status of those on board is unclear and the complete papers carrying permissions and licences are unavailable," she said.
BJP emphasised that Indian coastal security is of critical importance and should not be taken lightly.
"Post-Mumbai attacks (26/11), this country has realised how important it is to guard its coasts. It is important for clearly stating the Centre and state's responsibility in this matter," the spokesperson said.

The party insisted that government give a clear picture of what the vessel was doing in Indian waters and how it had gone undetected for so long.
Claiming to have raised its voice and alerting the government in the past on piracy in high-seas, BJP said India needs to be proactive in protecting the country's vessels in piracy-infested waters.

"Now, in the context of the capture of this vessel, we demand that the government tell the people of this country if they have progressed in that direction. The floating armouries of this kind and their legal status being unclear, raise a lot of questions. Legal or otherwise, the risk of their falling in wrong hands is very high and raises issues of national security," Sitharaman said.