Congress attacks Modi govt over coastal security, but how valid is the attack?

Ahmedabad, 8 May, 2014

Presented below is Gujarat Congress’s press release targeting the Narendra Modi led Gujarat government over the issue of coastal security of Gujarat in full text:

PRESS NOTE 8th May, 2014

•In spite of revelation that sea coast of Gujarat was used to materialize 26/11 terrorist attack on Mumbai, Modi Government is slipshod – insensitive on coastal area security.
•Once heaven for smugglers of gold, Gujarat has now become heaven for smugglers of drugs as well.
•The boat from which Australian Navy seized 1032 KGs of heroine worth Rs.1600 crores, was registered at Veraval and hired by a person of Salaya. Though this boat left the coast of Gujarat, Gujarat police did not sense it, however, Australian navy captured it from coast of Kenya.
•In spite of crores of rupees grant released by Government of India for coastal security, even diesel is not made available to Marine police in Gujarat for its boats : Coastal security is in the hands of god.

Recently, Australian Navy captured a boat with 1032 KGs of heroine worth Rs.1600 crores in international market. The boat from which such a huge quantity of heroin was seized, was registered at Veraval in Gujarat and was hired by a resident of Salaya.

Prime Ministerial candidate of Bhartiya Janta Party is making tall claim of chest of 56 inches and national security, but, in fact, coastal belt of Gujarat has been converting gradually into heaven for drugs mafias after gold smuggling. At that time, asking for a reply from the Chief Minister whose prime responsibility is safety of the State, GPCC President Mr.Arjunbhai Modhwadia stated that, the Gujarat was considered to be heaven for gold smuggling, which has been gradually become safe for drugs trafficking during last some period. Earlier, insensitive and negligent approach of Gujarat Government was revealed when reports were there that the terrorists who staged attack on Mumbai on 26/11, used coastal area of Gujarat as their route through Kuber boat to materialize their terrorist attack. Till now, drug mafias used to chose route of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Burma, however, now those drug mafias consider this Gujarat route as safe like heaven. Once again, Gujarat police was in deep slumber while huge quantity of 1032 KGs of heroin worth Rs.1600 crores was transported through Gujarat’s coast area fearlessly which can ruin lives of millions of youngsters and it was Australian Navy which conducted operation of seizure. Bhartiya Janta Party Government of Gujarat has now ordered on paper for investigation following the approach of locking stables after horses run away.

Unveiling facts of tall claims of national safety being made by B.J.P’s prime ministerial candidate Mr.Narendra Modi, it was stated by Gujarat Pradesh Congress President Mr.Arjunbhai Modhwadia that, crores of rupees were given as grant for marine police to Gujarat by Union Government, not a single marine police station has become functional till date in Gujarat. Though boats for patrolling have been purchased, required crew for those boats have not been recruited nor diesel is provided. Large scale irregularities have been also committed by Modi Government in purchase of marine security equipments. Even after 26/11 terrorist attack of Mumbai, Bhartiya Janta Party Government has remained careless.

The boat seized with heroin worth Rs.1600 crores was hired by Haji Bashi Kathiriya of Salaya. Out of his two brothers, Haji Ajij Kungda is eminent leader of B.J.P. of Salaya and Haji Abdul Karim Kungda has been elected member of Salaya Municipality on symbol of B.J.P. During fasts observed by the Chief Minister Narendra Modi at Jamnagar and Dwarka under his Sadbhavna campaign, those brothers entertained him as good hosts.

Last month, chemical substance were seized in Gujarat from a courier company of Maninagar. Earlier, 600 GMs of heroin was seized. There is large scale distribution of opium pills and intoxicant substances taking place in Gujarat. It is responsibility of the State Government to prevent youth of Gujarat from addition where State Government has remained absolutely negligent. Due to the police administration which is busy with security of ‘Saheb’ and spying pursuant to special instructions from ‘Saheb’, there is uninterrupted sale of intoxicant substances in Gujarat.

Indian liquor worth crores of rupees is being unloaded in Gujarat daily under Narendra Modi’s regime. State Government has become shelter provider for economic offenders. Photographs have become public showing that the accused of Rs.5000 crores hawala scam has been in very close relations with Chief Minister of Gujarat and other leaders of Gujarat Bhartiya Janta Party. In Sabarmati Central jail situated at a distance of 30 KMs from residence of Chief Minister, though 200 feet long tunnel is dug, ‘Saheb’ is signing chorus of ‘everything is safe’. Is this definition of Good Governance?

Instead of behaving responsibly for making in line administration with an approach to convert 1600 KM long coastal area of Gujarat into pathway for development, incidents are often taking place which shows it to be a safe passage for trafficking of fake currency notes, weapons and now for drug mafias. On the other hand, Bhartiya Janta Party’s prime ministerial candidate who is acting to play role of security adviser at national level in the matters of national security, is observing silence on issue of trafficking of heroin-drugs worth Rs.1600 crores. Why? People demands answer from him.

Congress press release ends.

Editor’s note:

-Kuber boat had not traveled through Gujarat seat, but through international sea where Coast Guard has to keep watch. Coast Guard doesn’t function under the Gujarat government.

-The investigation of sailors has revealed that Rs. 1600 crore heroin was loaded by Pakistanis in said boat in international sea on route to Mombasa from Dubai(dhow was diverted off Pakistan coast close to Jeevani port). The claim that ‘Rs.1600 crores was transported through Gujarat’s coast’ is false.

– Even if we accept the fact that the said boat left Gujarat coast(not with heroin, but with regular goods), the boat left Gujarat coast at Tuna port which is controlled by Kandla Port Trust that functions under central government.

-There can be some truth about inefficient functioning of marine police station and coastal security equipments, boats, but state police’s job is limited to basic coastal surveillance and dealing with the cases. The job of scrutiny of incoming and outgoing boats is assigned to Custom, Excise, DRI(under central government) and Coast Guards(under central government). The issues of diesel and crew are sorted out to some extent. Union government’s aid for marine security was not exclusive to Gujarat. It was given to other coastal states too.

-Yes Haji Bashi Kathiriya of Salaya hired the boat that was transporting drug to Mombasa from Dubai sea, but he has nothing to do with BJP.

-The menace of drug is everywhere including in Gujarat, but definitely not on ‘large scale’ as alleged by Congress in the press release above. Still, drug and liquor mafias must be dealt strictly.

-200 feet long tunnel in Sabarmati jail was detected by jail staff of Gujarat Police itself and cases are registered in connection with this against the prisoners. Congress could have valid chance to make allegation against the state government on this issue only if tunnel was not detected and prisoners escaped.

-Incidents of weapon and fake currency supply through Gujarat coast? We never heard such case during recent years in Gujarat! Can Congress point out specific case?

-Yes Gold smuggling has increased, but job of checking at airports and ports is assigned to Custom and Excise department which functions under the central government. Police should of course keep watch and catch the culprits, but primary responsibility lies with Customs.

-Yes Surat based Hawala operator Phatta was seen with BJP leaders at several occasions, but whether BJP leaders were knowing about his business and involved with him is a subject of investigation. So far as Phatta’s photo with Modi is concerned, there are thousands of people in Gujarat who have greeted Modi in public functions and have photographed the moment. By the way, Phatta has one photograph with Congress MP Mohammad Azharuddin too.