A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that Rajiv Gandhi used INS Viraat as a “personal taxi”, former Navy chief Admiral (Retd) L Ramdas, as well as a former commanding officer of the aircraft carrier, rejected the claim.

Vice Admiral (Retd) Vinod Pasricha, who was commanding the ship during the then prime minister’s visit, said all protocols were followed during Rajiv Gandhi’s official trip in 1987, adding ‘no foreigners or other guests were present’.

“The claim was totally wrong,” said Vice Admiral (retd) Vinod Pasricha.

Former Navy Chief Ramdas, who was the Southern Navy Commander, in a statement said, no foreigners visited INS Viraat and that Rajiv Gandhi and his wife were on board the aircraft carrier following all official protocol.

“Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Mrs Sonia Gandhi were embarked on board INS Viraat off Trivandrum en route Lakshadweep. The Prime Minister was at Trivandrum as chief guest for the National Games prize distribution,” the former Navy Chief said.

“He was going to Lakshadweep on official duty, to chair a meeting of IDA (Islands Development Authority). This meeting is held alternately in Lakshadweep and in Andamans,” former Navy Chief Ramdas said.

Admiral Ramdas, added, “There were no foreigners with them. I, as Flag officer commanding in Chief, Southern Naval Command, based in Cochin, also boarded INS Viraat.”

Addressing his first poll rally in Delhi ahead of the May 12 elections, PM Modi said, “Who has been treating the forces as personal property? …have you ever heard that a family goes for holiday on a warship? This has happened in our country. The ‘naamdar’ family used INS Viraat as its personal property. They insulted it.”

INS Viraat was withdrawn from its place of deployment and sent to fetch the in-laws of Rajiv Gandhi before it was taken to an island where there was nobody to welcome them and all arrangements for them were made by the personnel of the aircraft carrier, PM Modi alleged.

The holiday continued not for one day, but for 10 days during which the warship remained stationed there, he added.

The Prime Minister then asked whether the presence of “foreigners on the warship did not amount to playing with the security of the country. Or was it allowed just because he was Rajiv Gandhi?”

However, another former Navy Commander (retd) VK Jaitly, in a tweet, said “Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi used INS Viraat for travel to celebrate their holidays at Bangaram Island. Indian Navy resources were used extensively. I am a witness. I was posted on INS Viraat that time.”

Earlier, PM Modi, taking a jibe at Congress president Rahul Gandhi at a rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh on Saturday had said that Rajiv Gandhi who was termed ‘Mr. Clean’ by his courtiers, ended as ‘bhrashtachari’ (corrupt) number 1.”

Doubling down his charges of corruption against Rajiv Gandhi, PM Modi on Monday dared the Congress to fight the elections in the name of the former prime minister.

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