[<<The retired Indian Navy officer, Admiral L Ramdas, has today issued a strong statement from his Alibag residence stating that former prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi, did not use the aircraft carrier, INS Viraat, for his personal cruise 32 years ago. Admiral Ramdas was reacting to the earlier poll speech of Narendra Modi in which he said that Rajiv Gandhi had misused INS Viraat as his `personal taxi' to go on a holiday to Lakshadweep, along with his family and some foreign relatives
"After collating email responses from my colleagues -- Adm Arun Prakash, Vice Adm Vinod Pasricha, Adm Madanjit Singh -- all of whom were serving officers in the Western Fleet of Indian Navy during the events (of December 1987) referred to here, I would like to state unequivocally that Rajiv Gandhi did not use INS Viraat as a personal cruise lasting 10 days to Lakshadweep Islands," stated Adm Ramdas.
***He further added that Rajiv Gandhi and his wife Sonia Gandhi had come onboard INS Viraat off Trivandrum, en route Lakshadweep. "Rajiv Gandhi was going to Lakshadweep on official duty to Chair a meeting of IDA (Islands Development Authority). There were no foreigners with them on INS Viraat." [Emphasis added.]
Adm Ramdas also stated: "PM is authorized to travel along with his spouse by service aircraft on official duties. From what I know, only Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi went ashore by helicopter, and Rahul never accompanied them.">>
(Excerpted from sl. no. I. below.)
<<Congress' social media strategist Divya Spandana on Thursday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly taking Canadian citizen Akshay Kumar with him onboard Indian Navy warship Sumitra.
Her attack on Modi came a day after he accused late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi of using warship INS Viraat as a "personal taxi" for a family holiday.
"Yeh teek tha? @narendramodi you took a Canadian citizen @akshaykumar with you on-board INS Sumitra," Spandana tweeted with the hashtag 'sabse bada jhoota Modi (biggest liar Modi)'.
Setting to rest speculation about his citizenship, actor Akshay Kumar had earlier this month said he holds a Canadian passport.>>
(Excerpted from sl. no. II. below.)
Ulṭā Chor Kotvāl Ko Dāṇṭe!!!]
I/II.
Rajiv Gandhi did not use INS Viraat for personal cruise; no foreigners were onboard' says Admiral (retd) Ramdas
Vijay Singh | TNN | Updated: May 9, 2019, 22:20
NAVI MUMBAI: The retired Indian Navy officer, Admiral L Ramdas, has today issued a strong statement from his Alibag residence stating that former prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi, did not use the aircraft carrier, INS Viraat, for his personal cruise 32 years ago. Admiral Ramdas was reacting to the earlier poll speech of Narendra Modi in which he said that Rajiv Gandhi had misused INS Viraat as his `personal taxi' to go on a holiday to Lakshadweep, along with his family and some foreign relatives
"After collating email responses from my colleagues -- Adm Arun Prakash, Vice Adm Vinod Pasricha, Adm Madanjit Singh -- all of whom were serving officers in the Western Fleet of Indian Navy during the events (of December 1987) referred to here, I would like to state unequivocally that Rajiv Gandhi did not use INS Viraat as a personal cruise lasting 10 days to Lakshadweep Islands," stated Adm Ramdas.
He further added that Rajiv Gandhi and his wife Sonia Gandhi had come onboard INS Viraat off Trivandrum, en route Lakshadweep. "Rajiv Gandhi was going to Lakshadweep on official duty to Chair a meeting of IDA (Islands Development Authority). There were no foreigners with them on INS Viraat."
Adm Ramdas also stated: "PM is authorized to travel along with his spouse by service aircraft on official duties. From what I know, only Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi went ashore by helicopter, and Rahul never accompanied them."
Snipped
II.
Why Take Canadian Akshay Kumar Aboard INS Sumitra? Congress's Divya Spandana Blasts Modi
Divya Spandana also tagged a link in her tweet to an article which raised questions as to why Bollywood was roped in for International Fleet Review at Visakhapatnam in 2016.
PTI
Updated:May 9, 2019, 7:10 PM IST
Why Take Canadian Akshay Kumar Aboard INS Sumitra? Congress's Divya Spandana Blasts Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi in conversation with actor Akshay Kumar. (Twitter/BJP)
New Delhi: Congress' social media strategist Divya Spandana on Thursday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly taking Canadian citizen Akshay Kumar with him onboard Indian Navy warship Sumitra.
Her attack on Modi came a day after he accused late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi of using warship INS Viraat as a "personal taxi" for a family holiday.
"Yeh teek tha? @narendramodi you took a Canadian citizen @akshaykumar with you on-board INS Sumitra," Spandana tweeted with the hashtag 'sabse bada jhoota Modi (biggest liar Modi)'.
Setting to rest speculation about his citizenship, actor Akshay Kumar had earlier this month said he holds a Canadian passport.
Spandana also tagged a link to an article which raised questions as to why Bollywood was roped in for International Fleet Review at Visakhapatnam in 2016.
"Kumar even sailed in the presidential yacht INS Sumitra along with naval chiefs and other VVIPs," the report said.
Spandana also asked Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan to clear his stand on the INS Viraat issue, citing a report which quoted former Lakshadweep administrator Wajahat Habibullah denying the PM's claim and saying check with Bachchan in case of doubt.
Prime Minister Modi, at a rally here on Wednesday, accused the Gandhi family of using warship INS Viraat as its "personal taxi" for a holiday when Rajiv Gandhi was at the helm, launching a fresh attack on the late Congress leader days after throwing the "bhrashtachari no 1" barb at him.
"Ever imagined that a premier warship of the Indian armed forces could be used as a taxi for a personal holiday? One dynasty did it," Modi had said.
The Navy was made to host the Gandhi family and Rajiv Gandhi's in-laws, and a helicopter was also deployed in their service, Modi had claimed, adding that when a family becomes supreme, the country's security is at stake.
"INS Viraat was insulted by using it as a personal taxi. This happened when Rajiv Gandhi and his family was out for a 10-day vacation.
"INS Viraat was deployed for securing our maritime boundary.But, it was diverted to take the Gandhi family which was out for a vacation," Modi had said.
Congress leaders, including its president Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, have hit out at Modi for his barb at their father, who was India's prime minister between 1984-89.