Badal seeks intervention of PM for release of 35 crew members arrested at Iranian Seas

Chandigarh, August 29, 2013: The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh seeking his personal intervention to direct the Ministry of External Affairs, GoI to make use of all diplomatic Channels to secure immediate release of 35 Indian national crew members along with Captain SS Cheema, of Shipping Corporation of India Limited owned Motor Tanker ‘Desh Shanti’ Vessel, who were arrested on Bandar Abbas in Iran since August 12, 2013.
In two separate letters addressed to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Union External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, the Chief Minister impressed upon them for expediting release of the vessel along with its Captain and crew at the earliest.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Merchant Navy Officers Association led by Capt. Lalit Chander Dharmani along with Neena Cheema, the wife of Captain SS Cheema called on Badal here at Chief Minister’s residence this evening to apprise him about the entire incident for seeking his support and help to get the crew members released expeditiously.
The association also informed Badal that the all the crew members have been arrested on the ground that the ship had allegedly polluted Iranian seas. The crew on board was feeling threatened and were distressed since the last 18 days. The hygiene of the vessel was also a matter of major concern.
It may be recalled that Captain Cheema is a resident of Mohali, who informed that his wife that vessel was in no way responsible for creating any pollution and not committed any irregularity rather it complied with all international rules and regulations. The association also urged the Chief Minister on behalf of the families of the sea farers that the vessel should be released immediately besides securing the safe return of their beloved ones to their homes.