Gujarat coast used for narcotics smuggling: Congress

New Delhi, May 11 (IANS) The Congress Sunday accused Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of major security lapses in his state's coastal region leading to narcotics smuggling.

"On 22nd/23rd April, 1,032 kg of heroin valued at 289 million Australian dollars was seized by the Australian Coalition Maritime Forces from a Gujarat-registered ship Laxmi-Narain off the coast of Kenya," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told media here.

He said the ship was allegedly chartered in October 2013 to Gujarat-based Haji Bashi alias Haza Bhai Kathiriyain, whose brother Haji Ajij Kungda is an eminent leader of the BJP in Jamnagar district's Salaya city.

Singhvi alleged that the ship was used for terrorist activity.

"According to Terry Morrison, the commander of the naval ship belonging to Coalition Maritime Forces, which seized Laxmi-Narain, these drugs assist terrorist organisations, including Al Qaeda to conduct violent acts," Singhvi claimed.

He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate of failing to utilise the grants allotted by the central government and ensure coastal security.

"Has the state government failed to provide even minimum apparatus support facilities and diesel to Marine police in Gujarat for its boats," he asked.

BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi rubbished the accusations, saying the Coast Guard comes under the central government.