The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has asked the Government to present all the facts to the public about the captured US ship MV Seaman, citing several cases of illegal arms haul that have gone unexplained in the past.
Party spokesperson, Nirmala Sitharaman, said the vessel was caught with arms, explosives and ammunition. “Till date, the legal status of those on board is unclear and the complete papers carrying permissions and licences are unavailable, as reported,” she said here today.
She said the ship had been in Indian waters for 15-45 days. “It is reported that its last port of call was Kochi. However, it is unclear as to when they reported in Kochi,” she said. She asked the Centre if there was any mechanism to deal with it, if it was established that the ship was a private rogue/cowboy operator. “However, it raises the question of internal and external security and the Government of India is observed only in its silence,” Nirmala Sitharaman added.
She said it was important to clearly state the Centre and State’s responsibility in the matter. “If, after due checking in the Kochi port, this vessel was allowed to go with the arms and ammunition still on board, it raises a lot of questions, such as what its next port of call was. And, why did they fail to reach it? What is the necessity to buy fuel in cans, as though they were poor fishing boats?” she said.