At a rally in Delhi on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought back from the grave a controversy around Late PM Rajiv Gandhi using the now decommissioned Naval warship INS Viraat as a “personal taxi”. This attack, just days after the PM calling Rajiv Gandhi as “Bhrasthachari no 1”, has heated up the political landscape while two phases of the general elections to constitute the 17th Lok Sabha remain.

The claims were affirmed by an India Today article published back in 1988 which clearly read that the former PM and family had vacationed at the uninhabited island of Bangaram in Lakshadweep and also hints towards INS Viraat being used to transport the PM. Viraat was one of the prime warships Indian Navy possessed then.

However since the claims, many former officers of the Indian Navy have been divided on sides either supporting the claims or debugging them. Two such former officials who have supported Modi’s claim are former Navy commander V K Jaitly and former Lieutenant Commander Harinder Sikka. In an exclusive chat with Rahul Satija for Firstpost, the two former Navy officers claim the warship and its crew were stationed near Lakshadweep for 10 days while the Gandhis vacationed. Denying then ship captain Vinod Pasricha’s claim, Sikka says his background should be checked to understand why he would support the Gandhis. Excerpts:  

Q: Were you part of the onboard crew? Where were you posted at that time when the said trip was taken and in what capacity? How did you get to know that Viraat was hosting the Gandhis?

A:  Jaitly- Yes, I was a part of the onboard crew. I was a lieutenant and a weapon maintaining officer. The preparations for the PM's onboarding started a month prior. And everyone knew that the PM was coming with his wife.

Sikka- No I was not part of the onboard crew. I was at that time posted in Bombay. But I had my colleagues who we're  part of that crew. There was an unspoken word of Viraat hosting the Gandhis and everyone in the Navy was aware about that.

Q: Can you recount what happened when Gandhi family was onboard INS Viraat? Who accompanied the prime minister (were there any foreigners on board?)

A: Jaitly- The Prime Minister was accompanied by his wife and I don't exactly remember whether his son was present there or not. The Admiral room was prepared for the PM and they stayed on the ship for 24 hours after which they went to the island. I also met them at the party that happened in the  evening. For that duration of 10 days in which they were on the island the fleet of ships remained near the island. And at the time of returning there was only Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi was not accompanying him.

Q: That Rajiv went on vacation after chairing a meeting of Islands Development Authority in Lakshadweep is a fact he accepted after the vacation ended and he returned to work. However, do you think it is relevant to discuss this ahead of the final two phases of elections?

A: Jaitly- Like I said, anyone can convert a private vacation into an official one. There is no doubt that it was vacational trip. Official engagements are of 2-3 hours and not of 10 days.

Q: For Jaitly: You told Times Now that you aren’t sure whether the trip was official or not. But isn't that critical to the allegations that Modi has made?

A: No I have not said that. There is no doubt that it was a vacational trip. And every officer knew about that.

Q: Former Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha has rejected these claims, he was the captain of the ship when the said trip. How would you like to comment?

A: Jaitly - He (Pasricha) has not refused that the Late PM didn't come to the warship. He just said that this was an official engagement. But one can easily convert a private visit to an official one. And  every officer was aware of the vacation.

Sikka- Just check the Admiral’s background and you would know why they are supporting the Gandhis.

Q: How did you voice your objection to the issue back then and who did you approach? Who suppressed you and why didn’t you speak up later?

A: Sikka-  I had complained to my immediate senior but he suppressed the matter after which I had no option left. The officer who suppressed it has passed away and I don't want to take his name. Then the issue seemed lost away. But now since the PM has brought up the issue. He has actually done a favour to the armed forces.

Jaitly- We never thought in those terms. We had orders that it has to be done and we just did that. At that time it didn't feel like raising an objection was a concern. As we were like we are hosting our PM and it didn't seem to be a big deal but we were angry about them using the ship for vacation.

Q: Can you give us more details about media reports back then and how the PM responded to the allegations?

A: Sikka and Jaitly- No we don't remember anything about that clearly.

Q: Why do you say Rajiv insulted the defence forces in this case?

A: Jaitly - Any person who uses the armed forces for his personal uses is insulting the defence forces. Around 6-8 ships were involved with Viraat and all of them just stayed around the island while the Gandhis were enjoying their holidays. Right now, I am seeing photos of Jawaharlal Nehru on WhatsApp that they went to Indonesia with his wife and children. This family thinks that they own the whole country.

Sikka- Viraat was the biggest aircraft carrier in the Indian Navy at that time. And it's absence for 10 days for a vacation was a big threat to the national security.