Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Monday wrote a letter to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh requesting “immediate intervention to grant no objection certificate (NOC) to preserve INS Viraat.”

Notably, the retired Indian Navy warship is headed to a ship-breaking yard in Gujarat and calls for its preservation are growing louder. The iconic vessel was purchased by ship-breaker company Shree Ram shipbreakers for Rs 35.8 crore in July this year, reported PTI.

Sharing her letter on Twitter, Chaturvedi wrote, “INS Viraat served India for nearly 30 years. It has been the pride of our seas&our Indian Navy. To see it sold as scrap & dismembered will be a huge disservice to our naval legacy. With RM’s NOC, a memorial on INS Viraat will be a reality. My letter to Shri @rajnathsingh Ji on this.”

“INS Viraat, the flagship of the Indian Navy till 2013 has served the nation for almost 30 years. INS Viraat is a historic ship that has spanned the history of naval architecture from World War II and also served as the foundation of Indian naval power,” she wrote in her letter.

Also read: No objection if Viraat is bought by another firm from present owner: Centre

“It would be a crying shame if we let go of our history without giving the benefit of knowledge to our future generation. INS Viraat’s preservation is well-merited and deserving of strong consideration by the government,” she added.

“Let INS Viraat be a living, breathing and thriving memorial of India’s nationalism, patriotism and pride. Let us be preservers than destroyers of our rich history. Hence, it is my humble submission to kindly grant the NOC that would help preserve INS Viraat,” Chaturvedi said concluding the letter.