Congress counters PM Modi's INS Viraat charge; Navy veterans pitch in TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: May 9, 2019, 22:11 IST

-

Congress counters PM Modi's INS Viraat charge; Navy veterans pitch in

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: May 9, 2019, 22:11 IST

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Arun Jaitley said that while the "kaamdars" used India's naval fleet to strike at terror, "naamdars" used them for personal reasons
  • The Congress accused Narendra Modi of spreading canards and lies during elections and said it proves his "imminent defeat"
  • Meanwhile, several retired naval officers also jumped into the debate with most of them rejecting PM Modi's claims against Rajiv Gandhi
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister 
Narendra Modi
's accusation that former PM Rajiv Gandhi took family vacations onboard 
INS Viraat
 triggered allegations and counter-allegations from both sides, with not just politicians but even Navy veterans jumping into the debate.

While the 
Congress
 reacted strongly to PM's allegations, the 
BJP
 backed PM Modi's claim and said that the opposition party used India's naval fleet for "personal reasons".
Meanwhile, several retired naval officers too jumped into the heated debate. While most of them rejected PM Modi's claims against Rajiv Gandhi, one retired official said he witnessed the misuse of INS Viraat by the late former PM's family.

Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha (retd), who was commanding the ship during the then Prime Minister's visit, said all protocols were followed during Gandhi's official trip in 1987, adding no foreigners or other guests were present.

"The claim was totally wrong," said Vice Admiral Pasricha (retd).
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 onboard the aircraft carrier following all official protocols.

However, another former Navy Commander VK Jaitly (retd), backed Modi's claim and said that Rajiv Gandhi and his wife Sonia used INS Viraat to celebrate their holidays at Bangaram island.

"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," Jaitly tweeted.

Modi, during an election rally on Wednesday, had accused the Gandhi family of using INS Viraat as its "personal taxi" for a holiday when Rajiv Gandhi was India's Prime Minister between 1984-89.

Union minister Arun Jaitley took a potshot at the erstwhile Congress government today, saying that while the "kaamdars" used India's naval fleet to strike at terror, "naamdars" used them for personal reasons.

Defence minister 
Nirmala Sitharaman
defended the Prime Minister's statement at a press conference and claimed that a crew member of INS Viraat confirmed to her that Rajiv Gandhi's family and his in-laws "misused" the warship.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

-
Image
Dangal star Zaira Wasim quits films: My relationship with my religion was threatened In a detailed post on her Facebook page, the Kashmiri-born Dangal star Zaira Wasim said she realised "though I may fit here perfectly, I do not belong here".l  nationalAward-winning actor Zaira Wasim on Sunday announced her "disassociation" from the field of acting, saying she was not happy with the line of work as it interfered with her faith and religion. In a detailed post on her Facebook page, which she later shared across all social media platforms, the Kashmiri-born Dangal fame star said she realised "though I may fit here perfectly, I do not belong here". "Five years ago, I made a decision that changed my life forever. As I stepped my foot in Bollywood, it opened doors of massive popularity for me. I started to become the prime candidate of public attention, I was projected as the gospel of the idea of success and was often identified as a role model...
Read more

UNSC non-permanent seat: India’s candidature receives unanimous endorsement by Asia-Pacific group

-
Image
NATIONAL UNSC non-permanent seat: India’s candidature receives unanimous endorsement by Asia-Pacific group A United Nations logo is seen on a glass door in the Assembly Building at the United Nations headquarters in New York City September 18, 2015. | Photo Credit:  Reuters PTI UNITED NATIONS  26 JUNE 2019 11:11 IST UPDATED: 26 JUNE 2019 11:37  In a highly significant diplomatic win, India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat at the powerful UN Security Council for a two-year term has been unanimously endorsed by the Asia-Pacific group at the world body. Elections for five non-permanent members of the 15-nation Council for the 2021-22 term will be held around June next year. “A unanimous step. Asia-Pacific Group @UN unanimously endorses India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat of the Security Council for 2 year term in 2021/22. Thanks to all 55 members for their support,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin tweeted ...
Read more

भारत बनाम पाकिस्तान: टीम इंडिया जीती, इन खास रेकॉर्ड्स का गवाह बना ओल्ड ट्रेफर्ड स्टेडियम टाइम्स न्यूज नेटवर्क | Updated Jun 17, 2019,

-
Image
भारत बनाम पाकिस्तान: टीम इंडिया जीती, इन खास रेकॉर्ड्स का गवाह बना ओल्ड ट्रेफर्ड स्टेडियम टाइम्स न्यूज नेटवर्क | Updated   Jun 17, 2019, 08:51 AM IST वर्ल्ड कप 2019 में भारत ने पाकिस्तान को हरा दिया। अबतक हुए वर्ल्ड कप में भारत की पाकिस्तान पर यह 7वीं जीत थी। वर्ल्ड कप में पाक भारत को कभी नहीं हरा पाया है। रविवार को हुए मैच में कुछ खास रेकॉर्ड्स बने। उनके बारे में यहां जानिए हाइलाइट्स वर्ल्ड कप में रविवार को भारत ने पाकिस्तान को 89 रनों (डकवर्थ लुईस) से हरा दिया वर्ल्ड कप में भारत की यह पाकिस्तान पर 7वीं जीत, पाक आजतक वर्ल्ड कप में भारत को नहीं हरा पाया मैच में विराट कोहली ने 11 हजार वनडे रन पूरे किए, सचिन को छोड़ा पीछे वर्ल्ड कप में पाकिस्तान के खिलाफ भारत की तरफ से पहली शतकीय साझेदारी बनी मैनचेस्टर   बारिश की आंख आंखमिचौनी के बीच दिलों की धड़कने रोक देने वाला भारत और पाकिस्तान का मुकाबला आखिरकार टीम इंडिया ने जीत लिया।  वर्ल्ड कप  के इस मुकाबले में भारतीय खिलाड़ियों ने टीम को जीत दिलाने के साथ-साथ कुछ खास रेकॉर्ड्स भी अपने नाम किए। ...
Read more