Rajiv Gandhi used INS Virat for personal holidays: PM Narendra Modi

Launching a scathing attack on former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday alleged that the Rajiv Gandhi had used INS Virat for personal holidays.

Addressing a huge gathering at New Delhi's Ramlila Maidanin support of the candidates of the BJP for the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, PM Modi , hitting back at Congress President Rahul Gandhi over saying Army was not anyone's personal property, said, ''I want to tell the people of our country about those who actually treated our Armed Forces as their personal property. Former PM Rajiv Gandhi took his in-laws and their family members from Italy to a personal holiday on Naval warship INS Viraat.''

"At the time when INS Virat was positioned for protection of maritime boundaries, it was sent to take Rajiv Gandhi and his family to an island for their holiday. Even his in-laws were onboard INS Virat. Was it not a compromise of national security?" he asked.

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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.

After the Ramlila Maidan speech, PM Narendra Modi also tweeted about it and accused Congress of compromising on the issue of national security.

"Even Navy personnel were put on service of Rajiv Gandhi and his family while they were vacationing at the island. INS Virat was also stationed at the island for 10 days during that time," he added.

Aircraft carrier INS Viraat was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1987. After nearly 30 years of service, it was decommissioned in 2016.

(With inputs from ANI)