Rajiv Gandhi didn't use INS Viraat for vacation: Former Navy officers

Vice Admiral Pasricha said Rajiv Gandhi was on official work, and his wife Sonia, son Rahul and a couple of IAS officers accompanied him

Former naval officers, including then commanding officer of INS Viraat, on Thursday dismissed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s allegation that former PM Rajiv Gandhi had used the now-decommissioned aircraft carrier as his “personal taxi”.

Retired Admiral L Ramdas issued a statement rejecting the PM’s claim that Rajiv Gandhi used INS Viraat as his “personal taxi” on a 10-day family vacation to Lakshadweep or that Sonia Gandhi’s relatives were on board the vessel. The incident dates back to December 1987.

In the statement, Admiral Ramdas said he has relied on responses from his colleagues, retired Admiral Arun Prakash, retired Vice Admirals Vinod Pasricha and