Congress leader Mullappally Ramachandran urges government to take steps protect coastal areas

NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over Chinese submarines presence in Indian ocean, a Congress MP today asked the government to take urgent steps to protect country's coastal areas.

"Chinese presence in Indian ocean and also presence of their submarines in Colombo pose serious threat," senior Congress leader Mullappally Ramachandran said in Lok Sabha.

Raising the matter during zero hour, he said Chinese claims over international waters with all its neighbours are also creating "an alarming situation" in the region especially when Indian ocean is emerging as the centre of gravity as far as maritime interest is concerned.

He said India has a long and vulnerable coastal line and the maritime interest of the country assumes paramount importance.

"The 26/11 Mumbai attack was an eye opener and it makes us more alert to the need for vigilance on coastal line," the former Union minister said.

"Under these circumstances, I urge the government to take urgent necessary steps and safeguard our interest against such threats," he said.