Congress is Speaking the Language of Pakistan, Says BJP on Mystery Boat Issue

New Delhi: The BJP on Sunday said the Congress' expression of doubts about the Pakistani vessel that exploded off Gujarat coast is merely encouraging Pakistan.

"The Congress is speaking the language of Pakistan. Why does it do so? Should they raise doubt on a major terror incursion?" said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra at a press conference on Sunday. ('Come Clean' on Pakistani Boat Issue, Congress Tells Government)

Accusing the opposition party of "speaking out of turn," he said the Congress doubts would be like "oxygen to Pakistan".

If the Congress wanted to know what was happening, "they should have asked, rather than raising the issue in such an immature way," he added. (Crew of Pakistani Boat That Blew Up Didn't Look Like Fishermen: Coast Guard)

The Pakistani fishing boat, said to be carrying explosives, had been intercepted by the Coast Guard before it exploded and sunk with four crew members on board.

Speculation had been rife about whether there was a terror angle to the incident. The Defence Ministry said the boat was "planning some illicit transaction" in the Arabian Sea. (Pakistan Rejects Reports of Boat Interception off Gujarat Coast)

On Saturday, the Congress had asked the government to "come clean" on the issue and explain "which terrorist organisation" was behind the episode.

"How can you say that a terrorist attack was prevented? How did they (government) come to the conclusion that it was a terrorist boat? There is no evidence," said party spokesperson Ajoy Kumar. (Pakistani Boat With Explosives Blows Up Off Gujarat Coast, Says Government)

"It is very strange. Nothing has been explained," he said, citing media reports which have questioned the government version about the episode.

The Coast Guard, which claimed the crew did not resemble fishermen and carried no nets, said a search operation is on for the boat's wreckage and the bodies.

The relations between Pakistan and India have lately been at a low, with the continuing ceasefire violations at the border and the bail to 26/11 mastermind Zaki-ur Rahman Lakhvi.