Top retired naval officers on Thursday strongly refuted PM Narendra Modi’s claim that former PM Rajiv Gandhi, his family and friends had used aircraft carrier INS Viraat as a “personal taxi” for a 10-day holiday in Lakshadweep in December 1987.
Vice-Admiral Vinod Pasricha (retd), the then captain of INS Viraat, and former Navy chief Admiral L Ramdas (retd), the then chief of Kochi-based Southern Naval Command, said Gandhi was on board the aircraft carrier for two-three days on official duty as PM. Moreover, no foreign nationals like Sonia Gandhi’s mother or friends of the Gandhis like film star Amitabh Bachchan ever embarked on INS Viraat, as was being alleged, the officers added. “The remarks (of Modi at an election rally on Wednesday) about INS Viraat being used as a personal taxi are totally wrong,” Pasricha said.

Top retired naval officers on Thursday strongly refuted PM Narendra Modi’s claim that former PM Rajiv Gandhi, his family and friends had used aircraft carrier INS Viraat as a “personal taxi” for a 10-day holiday in Lakshadweep in December 1987.
Vice-Admiral Vinod Pasricha (retd), the then captain of INS Viraat, and former Navy chief Admiral L Ramdas (retd), the then chief of Kochi-based Southern Naval Command, said Gandhi was on board the aircraft carrier for two-three days on official duty as PM. Moreover, no foreign nationals like Sonia Gandhi’s mother or friends of the Gandhis like film star Amitabh Bachchan ever embarked on INS Viraat, as was being alleged, the officers added. “The remarks (of Modi at an election rally on Wednesday) about INS Viraat being used as a personal taxi are totally wrong,” Pasricha said.