No restrictions on deployment of Jalashwa: Navy

Ridiculling a report by the national auditor that raised doubts over the 8216;restrictive clauses8217; on the deployment of INS Jalashwa...

Ridiculling a report by the national auditor that raised doubts over the 8216;restrictive clauses8217; on the deployment of INS Jalashwa8212;a former US Navy troop carrier8212;the Navy has said that the warship can be used in all roles possible and India has written permission from the US for the same.

A recent report of the Comptroller and Auditor General CAG had raised concerns about the sea worthiness of the ship and had said that the end-user agreement with the US has imposed unfair 8220;restrictions on the offensive deployment of the ship8221;.

However, the Navy has countered this by saying that while there was an end-user agreement with the US mandating periodic inspection of the vessel, the contract has no restrictive clauses on the deployment of the warship.

8220;It is an old ship and there are no such clauses. We have written permission from the US to use the ship in any role we want,8221; a top Navy officer told The Indian Express.

On Wednesday, Defence Minister A K Antony had refused to comment on the issue by saying that the matter would be dealt by the Government in Parliament.

Last month, the CAG had criticised the acquisition of the USS Trenton, saying the vessel was procured hastily without 8220;proper physical assessment8221; and had unfair restrictions on 8220;offensive deployment8221;. The report had raised doubts on the 8220;real advantages8221; of the warship due to a 8220;restrictive clause8221; and had said that there were disadvantages as the US had permissions 8220;to conduct an inspection and inventory of all articles transferred under the end-user monitoring clause8221;.

The warship, already under the scanner after an accidental gas leak killed five sailors and an officer in February, came under fire after the report with the Left parties protesting in Parliament over the deal. The vessel, brought under a 50-million contract signed in 2005, is the first US origin warship in the Indian Navy fleet.