INS Viraat was withdrawn from its place of deployment and sent to fetch the in-laws of Rajiv Gandhi before it was taken to an island where it remained stationed for 10 days, PM alleged.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public rally at Ramlila Ground in New Delhi. (Photo: IANS)
Firing fresh salvo at former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the Gandhi family used warship INS Viraat as its “personal taxi” for a holiday when Rajiv Gandhi was at the helm.
The remark comes days after PM Modi termed the late leader “corrupt No 1”.
Addressing his first poll rally in Delhi ahead of the May 12 elections for all its seven seats, Modi launched a scathing counter-attack on the Congress, asking why it fumes when he exposes the “misdeeds” of its leaders in whose name it often seeks votes.
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Addressing the gathering in Ramleela Maidan, 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INS Viraat was withdrawn from its place of deployment and sent to fetch the in-laws of Rajiv Gandhi before it was taken to an island where there was nobody to welcome them and all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?”
Aircraft carrier INS Viraat was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1987. After nearly 30 years of service, it was decommissioned in 2016.
PM Modi further took potshots at the Congress over its ‘NYAY’ scheme.
“Congress has started to talk about Nyay (justice), but I want to ask them who shall do justice to the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots?” he asked.
In an apparent reference to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, PM Modi said those who were behind the anti-Sikh riots were made chief ministers by the Congress.
PM Modi, taking a jibe at Congress president Rahul Gandhi at a rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh on Saturday, had said: “Your father was termed ‘Mr. Clean’ by his courtiers but his life ended as ‘bhrashtachari’ (corrupt) number 1.”
His remark came following Gandhi’s incessant attacks on him regarding allegations of corruption in the Rafale jet deal.
Rahul, Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and several opposition leaders have slammed the PM for his remarks against Rajiv Gandhi.
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