The government conveyed its deep concern over the continuing attacks on commercial vessels carrying Indian mariners and reiterated India's opposition to the use of force against civilian shipping.
The Air India flight crash probe remains ongoing, Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said, pledging a "thorough and objective determination" of what caused the disaster.
Claiming support of 19 Lok Sabha MPs, the rebel Trinamool camp plans to seek recognition as the 'real TMC', a move the party says is legally unsustainable.
PDT Achary said the anti-defection law protects MPs only if their party formally merges with another party under constitutional provisions; even a two-thirds majority does not qualify for protection.
