Ex-Naval officers claim no foreigner was with Rajiv Gandhi on board the INS Viraat

Hyderabad: Admiral L. Ramdas (retired), who was Southern Navy Commander in 1987 and was on board the INS Viraat when the Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and his wife Sonia travelled to Lakshadweep on the aircraft carrier, said that the ship was taking part in Naval exercises and that they were on an official visit.

Adm. Ramdas said the letter was drawing written responses of Vice-Admiral Vinod Parishcha (retd), then Captain and commanding officer of the INS Viraat, Admiral Arun Prakash (retd) was commanding the INS Vindhyagiri which was accompanying the Viraat, and Vice-Admiral Madanjit Singh (retd), then commanding the INS Ganga.

The Naval officers refuted Mr Modi’s claim and said, “All protocols were followed at the time and that no foreigners or other guests were present.”

Adm. Ramdas (retd) stated: “The Prime Minister (Rajiv Gandhi) and Mrs (Sonia) Gandhi were embarked on board INS Viraat off Thiruvanan-thapuram en route to Lakshwadeep. He was invited as a chief guest for the National Games prize distribution and was on official duty, i.e., to chair a meeting of IDA (Islands Development Authority). This meeting is held alternately in Lakshadweep and in Andamans.”

Stating that there were no foreigners with the couple on board the ship, Adm Ramdas (retd) said, “I, as Flag officer Comma-nding in Chief, Southern Naval Command, based in Kochi, also boarded INS Viraat. Four other ships were with INS Viraat as part of fleet exercises. I hosted a dinner for them on board INS Viraat. There were no other parties held on board INS Viraat or for that matter any other ship in our fleet during that time.”

The Navy officers were referring to the meetings and functions held in December 1987 when the western fleet had planned its naval exercises.

The officers said the Gandhi couple visited a few islands by helicopter to meet local officials and people. They said only Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi had gone ashore, unaccompanied by Rahul Gandhi.

A few naval divers had been sent ashore for the PM’s safety but no ship had been diverted. A helicopter was left at Kavratti to meet emergency requirements.

Admiral Ramdas (retd) also stated that he had hosted a ‘bada khana’ as per Naval custom and that he has photographs of the event.

The Western Command had charted out the exercise much in advance of the yearly programme held in that part of the Arabian Sea, he said.

Admiral Ramdas and several officers who were in the Navy at that time were responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had on Wednesday during an election rally accused the Gandhi family of using INS Viraat as its “personal taxi” for a holiday when Rajiv Gandhi was the PM.

In his speech, Mr Modi had said: "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. 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.

Adm. Ramdas (retd.), said the Gandhis flew to a couple of islands in the Lakshadweep chain by helicopter. While they travelled on the INS Viraat, the ships were not diverted for personal purposes. A helicopter was stationed at the island for medical emergencies, the letter said, recalling the sequence of events.