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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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BSP chief Mayawati names nephew Akash Anand as party in-charge

According to the party’s official statement, Mayawati called upon the party workers to increase the BSP’s support base for the Lok Sabha elections to liberate the poor, backward and deprived sections from the exploitative system of vote hamara, raj tumhara.

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BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday declared her nephew Akash Anand as her uttaradikari (heir). Udayveer Singh, the BSP’s Shahjahanpur district unit chief said Akash Anand has been declared the uttaradhikari by Mayawatiji. He said Anand has been given the responsibility to strtengthen the party organization all over India except Uttar Pradesh.

The party’s official statement did not include any such decision. Singh said Mayawati announced the decision during a meeting in the district that was attended by party leaders from all over India. Mayawati said  Anand will be her heir after her.

Confirming the development, BSP MLC Bhim Rao Ambedkar said. The party has got a youth leader in Akash Anand. He said in states where the party is weak, Anand will be strengthening it. He added BSP’s mission will continue. Asked about Anand becoming Mayawati’s successor, the BSP’s state unit chief Vishwanath Pal said Pura Bahujan samaj Khush hai. Anand is party’s national coordinator at present.

According to the party’s official statement, Mayawati called upon the party workers to increase the BSP’s support base for the Lok Sabha elections to liberate the poor, backward and deprived sections from the exploitative system of vote hamara, raj tumhara.

Mayawati gave detailed guidelines to senior office bearers of various states regarding preparations for the general elections. She said as an Ambedkarite party, the BSP’s effort is to develop the political power of the Bahujan Samaj by connecting various sections of the Bahujan community on the basis of mutual brotherhood. She said the objective is to acquire the master key of power.

She called upon the party workers to strengthen the organization with double effort to properly face opposition parties, which mostly survive in politics through money power, attractive promises and deceitful claims instead of policy and principles for the public and national interest.

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BJP names Vishnu Deo Sai as new chief minister of Chhattisgarh

In the Chhattisgarh assembly elections, Sai won from the Kunkuri Tribal seat with a margin of over 25000 votes. The BJP won 54 seats in Chhattisgarh, the Congress trailed behind with only 35 seats.   

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Vishnu Deo Sai, the former Chhattisgarh BJP president, will be the new chief minister of the state. The BJP had been in a huddle over the chief ministerial name since it scored a comfortable victory in Chhattisgarh, refuting election polls that predicted a tough fight with the Congress. Sai’s name was being counted among the frontrunners, along with former chief minister Raman Singh.

Sai had been the state president of the BJP between 2020 and 2022.He was the union minister of state for steel in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first term. He was also the Lok Sabha member from the BJP representing Chhattisgarh’s Raipur constituency. He is a member of BJP’s national working committee.

After the formation of the Congress government in 2018, when the BJP restructured its organization, Vishnu Deo Sai was appointed as the state president of BJP. In 2022, Arun Sao replaced Sai as the party’s state unit chief. Vishnu Deo Sai has been unanimously chosen as the leader of the legislative assembly. BJP Leader OP Chaudhary said the BJP will take the state forward under his leadership. He said they will fulfill the responsibilities decided by the party. He said the BJP will give their 100% under the leadership of Vishnu Deo Sai.

Sai began his political career as a panchayat leader. He later remained a member of the Madhya Pradesh assembly between 1990 and 98. In 1999, he was elected to the 13th Lok Sabha. He was later re-elected to the subsequent Lok Sabhas from Raipur. With his appointment as the chief Minister, the BJP eyes the sizable tribal votes in the state for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In the Chhattisgarh assembly elections, Sai won from the Kunkuri Tribal seat with a margin of over 25000 votes. The BJP won 54 seats in Chhattisgarh, the Congress trailed behind with only 35 seats.   

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India News

Danish Ali calls his suspension unfortunate, says he would continue to raise his voice against injustice, corruption

Danish Ali took to X(formerly Twitter) after his suspension, Ali said he made all diligent efforts to strengthen the BSP and would continue to oppose the anti people policies of the central government. He thanked the part chief Mayawati, for making him the BSP Parliamentary party leader

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Lok Sabha MP Danish Ali was suspended by Mayawati-led BSP on Saturday for allegedly indulging in anti party activities. He termed his suspension unfortunate and said he would continue to raise his voice against injustice and corruption.

Danish Ali took to X(formerly Twitter) after his suspension, Ali said he made all diligent efforts to strengthen the BSP and would continue to oppose the anti people policies of the central government. He thanked the part chief Mayawati, for making him the BSP Parliamentary party leader. Ali said if raising his voice against injustice was a crime, he was ready to face punishment.

Talking to the media in a press conference, Ali denied indulging in anti party activities and said he always walked the BSP’s line. On Friday Ali sided with the opposition and slammed the expulsion of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra as a Lok Sabha MP. He slammed the BJP led central government, saying its brute majority in the Lower House did not mean it could throttle the opposition.

The BSP is not a member of the rulling BJP-led NDA or the Opposition INDIA bloc. The BSP on Saturday suspended its MP Danish Ali for allegedly indulging in anti party activities. Ali has been representing the Amroha Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh since 2019.

In a statement issued by the BSP national general secretary Satish Chandra Misra, Ali had been warned by the party many times in the past not to indulge in anti party activities. The BSP said Ali had been working with HD Deve Gowda of the Janata Dal (secular) party. At that time, both the BSP and JD(S) were contesting together in the Karnataka state election. After the Karnataka election Ali was given a ticket from Amroha and asked to contest from there due to Devegowda’s insistence. Deve Gowda had said the party had decided to suspend Ali with immediate effect.

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