Government faces flak in RS over ASG submission on Italian ship

NEW DELHI: BJP today attacked the government over Additional Solicitor General ( ASG) Harin Raval's submission in the Supreme Court that Italian ship Enrica Lexie involved in firing on Kerala fishermen was not within Indian waters and demanded his sacking.

Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour, Balbir Punj (BJP) said it was with "great sadness and regret" that he wanted to know under whose diktat ASG acted and how his submission meant that Indian courts had no jurisdiction to try the case since the alleged incident happened when the ship was in international waters.

He said the entire nation was sympathising with the family of the deceased fishermen and have expressed shock and anguish at the position taken by the Centre's legal officer when the case came up for consideration in the Supreme Court.

ASG's submission that the state had no right even to file FIR has contradicted the stand of the Kerala government which firmly held that India has every legal competence to try the case under its law, he said.

Even Shipping Minister G K Vasan had said the incident happened in Indian waters and External Affairs Minister S M Krisha had to say that he was not consulted, Punj said.

The BJP members crying "shame-shame" rose on their feet with senior leader Ravi Shankar Prasad saying, "Mr Raval has no right to continue as Additional Solicitor General" while the members said, "he should be sacked immediately."