New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS): Congress leader Jaiveer Shergill on Wednesday flayed the central government for not coming to the rescue of 41 Indian sailors stranded in the Chinese waters and urged it to help them return home.

"The BJP-led government must shed its 'out of sight and out of mind approach' and take concrete steps to bring our sailors back home; the families of sailors are tensed up. It is high time the government does solid intervention to ensure the safe return of these sailors; the government must clarify how many times they have taken up the issue of stranded sailors with China," the party spokesperson said.

Shergill was reacting to news that 41 Indian sailors, aboard two ships, have been stranded in the Chinese waters. These are carrier MV Jag Anand stuck off Jingtang port since June with 23 Indian sailors, and another 18 onboard Anastasia docked in Bohai Sea.

Sources said that a face-off between China and Australia had forced both vessels to drop anchor at Chinese ports.

The sources said that Jag Anand transporting coking coal to China was refused permission by Chinese authorities to offload. Chinese officials were not even allowing the shipping company to send replacement crew.