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Modi’s claims on Rajiv Gandhi holidaying on Navy ship raises storm

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Modi’s claims on Rajiv Gandhi holidaying on Navy ship raises storm

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The present goes missing as focus shifts to the past in a way that portends ill for the future: that, in a nutshell, sums up Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election campaign and what it forebodes.

In a bitterly fought election, PM Modi seemingly left with little to tell the people about his own government, has taken to talking about real or imagined misdeeds of former PM late Rajiv Gandhi, the father of Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

As is his wont, Modi has also melded with this his favourite theme of armed forces, dragging them willy-nilly into politics.

Also Read: TIME magazine shows Narendra Modi on cover, calls him divider-in-chief

Modi’s claims that Rajiv Gandhi used Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier Viraatas ‘personal taxi’ for holidaying has got several navy veterans embroiled in the ongoing political mudslinging.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1557484973881{border-top-width: 10px !important;border-right-width: 10px !important;border-bottom-width: 10px !important;border-left-width: 10px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #c4c4c4 !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}”]What Modi alleged:

“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 claimed. 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 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 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.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]After Modi’s allegation, former navy chief L Ramdas issued a statement yesterday (Thursday, May 9) refuting Modi’s claims that Rajiv used INS Viraat as a “personal taxi” for ten days.

“I would like to state unequivocally, that this was not the case,” Ramdas said in his statement.

The former navy chief quoted parts of written responses from retired Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha (then captain and commanding officer of INS Viraat) and other officials. He also referred to a note from an officer who was then the naval officer in charge of Lakshadweep islands.

“Prime Minister and Mrs Gandhi were embarked on board INS Viraat off Trivandrum enroute Lakshadweep. The Prime Minister was at Trivandrum as chief guest for the National Games prize distribution. He was going to Lakshadweep on official duty, to Chair a meeting of IDA ( Islands Development Authority) . This meeting is held alternately in Lakshadweep and in Andamans,” he said.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi will be responsible if Modi-Shah comes back to power: Arvind Kejriwal

Ramdas stressed that “there were no foreigners” with the former PM when he was on board INS Viraat and pointed out that the “PM is authorised to travel along with his spouse by service aircraft on official duties.”

Another former senior Navy officer, Vice Admiral (Retd) IC Rao also termed as ‘untrue’ Modi’s claims and rued the tendency to drag in armed forces for political gains.

“Due to such claims, even the truth coming from such people (Modi) would be seen as fake information,” Vice Admiral (Retd) IC Rao said.

Rao, who was the admiral superintendent of the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai in 1987, said, “It is very bad for politicians to make such allegations. I feel that with such continued series of claims, even the true information would be seen as fake.”

“Such statements are aimed at swaying the voters. I feel the voters should ignore such claims and exercise their right,” Rao said.

“Rajiv Gandhi along with his family boarded the ship from Thiruvananthapuram to stay aboard for three days. Lakshadweep island is almost 220 nautical miles from land and helicopter was the only means of transportation then available, so he used the air service from Viraat,” he said.

“He organised a dinner on board the ship for the ship’s crew. It is very bad to spread fake information for some political gain,” he said.

“I am not a fan of Rajiv Gandhi or his policies, I do not want Navy or any other establishment to be used for political gains,” Rao said.

Earlier, Vice Admiral (Retd) Vinod Pasricha had refuted Modi’s claims and said the then PM and his wife Sonia Gandhi were onboard the warship for an official two-day tour.

Pasricha, who was in-charge of INS Viraat during Rajiv Gandhi’s 1984-89 tenure as PM, said all protocols were followed at the time and that no foreigners or other guests were present. “Nobody was on a holiday. Only Rahul Gandhi was with his family. No foreigner was with the PM,” he said.

Two Navy officers who came out in support of Modi’s allegation expressed resentment at the former PM being given the Admiral’s room on the ship, a party being hosted for him and a ‘foreigner’ Sonia Gandhi accompanying him. As such, their ‘support’ to Modi’s claims lacks any sound basis, as is evident from the statements from their seniors.

The two naval officers who came out in support of Modi’s claim did not elaborate whether Sonia’s parents, who were Italian nationals, were present onboard as claimed. They also do not explicitly state whether the trip was an official visit or a holiday.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Kherapointed out said that Pasricha has clarified that Rajiv was on an official visit on INS Viraat and not on a vacation.

“But facts don’t matter to Modi. He doesn’t have anything to talk about his own achievements. Rahul Gandhi has been challenging him for last six months now to debate on Rafale deal, demonetisation, unemployment, but Modi does not have the courage to speak,”Khera said at a press conference.

“Modiji tells us that 30 years ago, Rajiv went for a holiday in INS Viraat. The prime minister is a serial liar. A senior official has exposed his lies today. Retired Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha appeared on channels some time back and stated that this is a lie and the then PM was on an official visit and not on a holiday,” he 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 and 1989.

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Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal slams Centre over budget, says they have kept illiterates from top to bottom

The Centre had also sought an explanation from the Delhi Government over the budget for the proposed expenditure in the budget.

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Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

As the row between the Centre and the Delhi Government escalates over the budget issue, Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday slammed the Centre over their objections in Delhi’s assembly. The Delhi CM in his attack on the Centre claimed the bases of the objections to be meritless.

Delhi CM in his attack also termed objection by the Centre to be unprecedented and further highlighted how no Central Government has violated the tradition of no objection and halted the budget of any state. Kejriwal then pointed out the objections cited by the Centre and claimed that 20,000 crores were allocated for infrastructure, whereas 500 crores were allotted for advertisement in the Delhi budget.

He further questioned how 500 is more than 20,000 and lashed out at the Centre and claimed that they have illiterate people from top to bottom. The statements by Arvind Kejriwal came after the home ministry reportedly said that the AAP government’s budget proposal had hiked the allocation of advertisement as compared to the low funding for infrastructure.

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The Centre had also sought an explanation from the Delhi Government over the budget for the proposed expenditure in the budget.

Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot while talking to the media also thwarted the Centre’s claim and said that of the 78,800 crore budget, 22,000 crores was allocated for infrastructure whereas 550 crores were allocated for advertisements.

As per the reports, the Delhi Government has resubmitted the budget to the ministry and the AAP Government will announce Delhi’s budget tomorrow.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also wrote to the Prime Minister on Tuesday and asked Prime Minister Modi why he hates the people of Delhi. In his letter, Kejriwal also urged the PM of letting the Delhi Budget be passed. CM Arvind Kejriwal also highlighted that objection by the Central Government is unprecedented.

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BJP’s row with Congress over UK remarks continues, Sambit Patra says Rahul Gandhi doing what Mir Zafar did

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BJP’s row with Congress over UK remarks continues, Sambit Patra says Rahul Gandhi doing what Mir Zafar did

BJP’s spokesperson also raked up the issue of lack of participation by the Wayanad MP and said that debate is the soul of democracy, however, Rahul Gandhi had only participated only six times since 2019 and accused him of not participating in debates.

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Rahul Gandhi

Bhartiya Janata Party’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Tuesday launched an attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in the UK. BJP spokesperson in his attack on the Congress leader demanded an apology over his UK remarks and drew parallels between Gandhi and Mir Zafar.

Patra, while addressing a press conference, said that the Wayanad MP would have to apologize in Parliament. He further accused Gandhi of maligning the image of India and dubbed him to be the modern-day Mir Zafar of Indian Polity.

He further said that the Congress leader insulted the country and claimed that Rahul Gandhi has sought foreign intervention inside the country. Patra, in his attack, further termed the Congress leader’s actions to be an unrelenting conspiracy of the Congress.

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BJP’s spokesperson also raked up the issue of lack of participation by the Wayanad MP and said that debate is the soul of democracy, however, Rahul Gandhi had only participated only six times since 2019 and accused him of not participating in debates.

Expanding on the Mir Zafar analogy, Patra said that Mir Zafar did the same thing, he gave 24 Paraganas to get help from the East India Company and further claimed Rahul Gandhi for doing the same. Sambit Patra also said that the Congress leader is doing so in order to become the ‘Sahzada’ in India.

Sambit Patra also brought back to light Rahul Gandhi’s recent comment of him saying that he unfortunately an MP, however, Congress’s general secretary Jairam Ramesh intervened and asked him to reiterate. Patra raked up the comment made by Rahul Gandhi and slammed him for not knowing what to say.

Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on the state of India have come to become a showdown between the Congress and the BJP as of late various BJP leaders including the brass leader have come forward to question and attack the Congress, as well as Rahul Gandhi for his remarks.

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal slams AAP over Amritpal Singh, warns AAP government against conspiracies to defame Sikh community for electoral gains

Rahul Gandhi says he won’t be intimidated days after Delhi Police search his residence

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Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal slams AAP over Amritpal Singh, warns AAP government against conspiracies to defame Sikh community for electoral gains

Sukhbir Singh Badal wrote in his tweet that Sikhs are the most patriotic people and have made great sacrifices for securing the independence, unity, and integrity of the country. He further highlighted and said that India is a country of Sikhs as well and they don’t need to certify their patriotism.

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Sukhbir Singh Badal

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday took to Twitter to speak on the situation of the Pro Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh and his allies. Badal in his tweet slammed the Aam Aadmi Party government for the undeclared emergency and reign of repression and terror.

The Shiromani Akali Dal chief in his Tweet also raised concerns against conspiracies to defame the Sikh community for communal polarization and electoral gains.

In a series of tweets, Badal wrote that the Government led by S Parkash Singh Badal had removed the terror and repression during his leadership, however, he added that the Government’s that followed failed to follow the same trajectory and pushed Punjab back into a state of insecurity and repression which is reminiscent of the dark and tragic era.

He further wrote in his tweet that Sikhs are the most patriotic people and have made great sacrifices for securing the independence, unity, and integrity of the country. He further highlighted and said that India is a country of Sikhs as well and they don’t need to certify their patriotism.

Read Also: Amritpal Singh crackdown: Khalistani leader’s uncle brought to Central Jail in Assam, internet suspension to continue till March 23 noon in Punjab

Sukhbir Singh Badal in his Tweet also condemned the arrests of innocent Sikh youth and Amritdhari youth on the bases of suspicion. He further added that his party demanded the release of the innocent arrested during the crackdown by the Punjab police following the spate of events led by Amritpal Singh.

He further added and wrote in his tweet that his party stands for justice and the protection of the rights of the Punjabi people and the Sikhs in particular within the federal framework, with more powers to the states, a demand echoed now by other political parties too.

However, the Aam Aadmi Government has taken a stern stand and cautioned that the government will not allow lawlessness. The AAP government also added that they will take strict actions against those who disrupt the peace and incite violence.

The Punjab Police have arrested 114 associates of Amritpal Singh and held them for questioning. The prime accused continues to be at large after his dramatic escape that led to a car chase.

Rahul Gandhi says he won’t be intimidated days after Delhi Police search his residence

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