Ship with Rs 1,600 crore heroin sailed from Gujarat coast: Abhishek Manu Singhvi

Congress today alleged that heroin worth Rs 1,600 crore seized by Australian maritime force off the Kenya coast last month originated from Gujarat and sought to punch holes in Narendra Modi's claims of providing strong national security.

Party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi alleged the seizure has exposed the "total laxity" of the Narendra Modi-led Gujarat government on the issue of coastal security. "For Narendra Modi, national security is nothing but a stick for political gain... it is something to whip up jingoism and chest thumping," he told reporters here, adding the recent incident has shown how "hollow" his claims are. Singhvi also claimed that the ship was chartered to Jamnagar-based Haza Bhai Kathiriya in October last year, whose two brothers Haji Ajij Kungda and Haji Abdul Karim Kungda are prominent BJP leaders in the state.

"Who is responsible for security lapse in permitting coastal region of Gujarat to be used for narcotics smuggling," Singhvi sought to know and reminded that its coast was used by terrorists involved in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

"You are allowing this coastline to be brazenly used by smugglers, and certainly terrorists are and will take advantage of this laxity. This is real national security issue on the ground. It is in your backyard. "You have full assistance from government of India. You have special boats, special equipment. You are not using the manpower properly and not distributing it properly," Singhvi said cornering Modi on the issue.

Gujarat DGP P C Thakur said on May 2 that a CID probe has been ordered to find out whether the heroin seized near Kenyan coast was shipped from Gujarat or any such consignment was delivered here in the past using sea route.