In a sensational charge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, on Wednesday, accused the Gandhi family of using warship INS Viraat as its "personal taxi" when Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister.
In a response to the prime minister's charges, a statement signed by former chief of naval staff Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas, along with officers who served in the Western Fleet at the time, is circulating in social media explaining the events that happened.
Admiral Ramdas has stated that Rajiv Gandhi and his wife Sonia Gandhi embarked on board INS Viraat off Thiruvananthapuram enroute Lakshadweep after attending the National Games prize distribution in Kerala. "He was going to Lakshadweep on official duty, to chair a meeting of IDA (Islands Development Authority). This meeting is held alternatively in Lakshadweep and in Andamans," the statement said.
Adm L Ramdas issues statement on #INSVirat controversy. He was the Fleet Officer Commanding in Chief of Southern Naval Command, then.
— ପ୍ରିୟଦର୍ଶୀ/प्रियदर्शी/Priyadarshi/ਪ੍ਰਿਯਦਰਸ਼ੀ (@MajChowdhury) May 9, 2019
This statement is drafted after inputs from Adm @arunp2810 VAdm Madanjit Singh & VAdmV Pasricha (the then CO of #INSVirat)@ShivAroor @atti_cus pic.twitter.com/v2u84xjV2K
As the Flag Officer in Chief of Southern Naval Command based in Kochi, Admiral Ramdas who was also onboard INS Viraat along with Rajiv Gandhi, categorically stated that no foreigners were with the prime minister. "I hosted a dinner for them onboard INS Viraat. There were no other parties onboard INS Viraat or for that matter any other ship in our fleet during that time."
Admiral Ramdas also claimed to possess a photograph to confirm his statement.
In the statement, Ramdas had drawn responses from Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha, then captain and commanding officer of INS Viraat, Admiral Arun Prakash, commanding officer of INS Vindhyagiri which was accompanying INS Viraat, and Vice Admiral Madanjit Singh, commanding officer of INS Ganga.
Admiral Ramdas has been a staunch critic of the Modi government and has also served as Aam Aadmi Party's lokpal.
Addressing his first poll rally in Delhi on Wednesday, ahead of the May 12 elections for seven seats, Prime Minister Modi alleged that the Congress insulted the warship by using it for vacations of the Gandhi family.
Modi's attack on the late prime minister comes close on the heels of his allegation that Gandhi died as a "brashtachari no. 1".
The Congress, on Thursday, hit back at Prime Minister Modi, saying he is a "serial liar" who does not have the courage to fight elections on issues such as unemployment and demonetisation.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said retired Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha has clarified that the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was on an official visit on INS Viraat and not on a vacation.
