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The Centre's statement in Supreme Court that Kerala had no authority in detaining the Italian ship Enrica Lexie and its crew has become a political controversy. The Kerala government, the Left parties and the BJP criticised the stand taken by the Additional Solicitor General Harin Raval.
The BJP said the Additional Solicitor General favoured Italians in the court.
“Those fishermen who died at the hands of Italians should get justice. They are Indian citizens, not pirates,” the BJP spokesperson, Mr Prakash Javadekar, said.
Mr Javadekar alleged that the Food Minister, Mr K.V. Thomas, and Cardinal George Alencherry tried to weaken the case against Italians. “Both Mr Thomas and the Cardinal tried to weaken the case against the crew of the Italian ship. Both the State and the Centre government are responsible for the present situation. Efforts must be taken to ensure justice,” Mr Javadekar added.
Mr Thomas, however, said the BJP is trying to politicise the issue.
“Both the Centre and the State have taken measures to ensure justice. The ship and some members of its crew are under the custody of Kerala Police. No one is trying to delay the justice,” the Food Minister said.
The Kerala Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, had also protested against the Centre's stand on the issue.
The CPI (M) leaders had said that the Centre took such a stand in the case on the direction of the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi.
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