New Delhi: PM Modi on Wednesday had alleged that Rajiv Gandhi and his wife Sonia had used the warship as a "personal taxi" during a 10-day holiday to Lakshadweep Islands. The PM alleged that INS Viraat was "diverted to take the Gandhi family which was out for a vacation". Now, Rejecting the claims of the current PM, former Navy chief Admiral (retd) L Ramdas said: "this was not the case".
In a press statement, Admiral Ramdas also denied that the former PM had taken foreigners onboard the warship and that ships were specially diverted for the personal use of the Gandhi family.
In a statement, the former chief of staff of the Indian Navy said, "Yesterday at Ramlila grounds, Delhi, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi made a speech in which said that the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had used Indian Naval Ship Viraat for a personal cruise lasting ten days to Lakshadweep Islands, with his family and the members of the family of his wife Sonia Gandhi. Presumably, his comments were based on a report. I would like to state unequivocally, that this was not the case.”
He further said that his statement was based on "email responses from my colleagues; namely Adm Arun Prakash, Vice Adm Vinod Pasricha and Vice Adm Madanjit Singh. All the above officers were serving in the Western Fleet during the events referred to." It was pointed in the letter that Vice Admiral Pasricha was the captain and commanding officer of INS Viraat at that time.
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Admiral Ramdas said ex-PM Rajiv Gandhi, along with his wife Sonia Gandhi, boarded INS Virat from Trivandrum, where he was the chief guest for the National Games prize distribution ceremony.
Ramdas also added that the PM was going to Lakshadweep to attend an official meeting of the Islands' Development Authority.