A day after PM Narendra Modi, during a rally in Delhi, accused Rajiv Gandhi of using warship INS Viraat as a "personal taxi" for a family holiday and also tweeted the original report by India Today magazine, India Today TV spoke to journalist Anitha Pratap who broke the story in 1988.

On whether the story was as controversial back then as it has become now, Anitha Pratap said, "Not at all. Strange as it may seem, what was more controversial back then was Rajiv Gandhi saving a whale. It became controversial as it was a dolphin that he had saved, as reported by me."

She said Rajiv Gandhi using warship INS Viraat for a vacation in Lakshadweep did create some controversy but it soon died down as media moved on to other stories. "This was a matter of a sitting prime minister, so the Navy was tight lipped. The Navy is tight-lipped on controversies, not just in India, but other countries as well. News about Bofors scam had broken and that was obviously the focus then, than Rajiv Gandhi vacationing in Lakshadweep."

On how experts believed back then that it was completely inappropriate for a PM to use INS Viraat for a vacation, she said, "It was an issue of misuse and concern even at that time. I have also mentioned about honourable men and women in the story. One can follow up with them on it as they will definitely not lie. They will tell the truth or not, that’s a different story altogether."

Asked about claims and counter-claims the controversy has run into Anitha Pratap said, "I wouldn’t have reported it otherwise. But obviously it did not become the kind of controversy it has become today for whatever reasons. The fact is that it never exploded to this level of claims and counterclaims."

On Thursday, Wajahat Habibullah, who was the Lakshadweep administrator when Rajiv Gandhi went for the said holiday, said the PM was not vacationing onboard INS Viraat. Admiral L Ramdas, also issued a statement reiterating Habibullah's claims. Admiral Ramdas served as the flag officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Naval Command, based in Cochin, also boarded INS Viraat during the events referred to.

Admiral Ramdas, in his statement, said, "PM Rajiv Gandhi and Mrs Gandhi embarked on board INS Viraat off Trivandrum enroute Lakshadweep. "The Prime Minister was at Trivandrum as chief guest for the National Games prize distribution. He was going to Lakshadweep on official duty, to chair a meeting of IDA. There were no foreigners with them. I hosted a dinner for them onboard the ship. There were no other parties held on board INS Viraat... They did, ofcourse visit some of the islands on short trips by helicopter to meet local officials, as also the people there. (PM is authorised to travel along with his spouse by service aircraft on official duties). From what I know only Rajiv and Sonia went ashore by helicopter and Rahul never accompanied them."

The statement further read, "During his visit to Banagaram on the last day, a few naval divers had been sent ashore for PM's safety. These meetings and functions were in December 1987. The western fleet had planned its naval exercises with the aircraft carrier much in advance in the yearly exercise programme to be held in that part of the Arabian Sea. This was an opportunity for the officers and men to interact with their PM. He addressed the men, had 'bada khaana' as per the custom. I then hosted a dinner for the Prime Minister that night. And there is a photograph to confirm this."

Rajiv Gandhi during a dinner hosted by Admiral Ramdas onboard INS Viraat.

Admiral Ramdos confirmed that no ships were specially diverted for the personal use of Gandhi family. Only one small helicopter was left at Kavratti to meet any medical requirements of the PM and his wife.

The India Today magazine report that PM Modi shared on social media to attack the Gandhi family says Rajiv Gandhi and his family were accompanied by Amitabh Bachchan and his family. "The only other Indian guests were the wife and daughter of Bijendra Singh, brother of former Union minister Arun Singh. Two other foreigners completed the party," the India Today report says.

"Questionable actions were, however, in evidence. India's premier warship, INS Viraat, was used to transport the Gandhis and moved in the Arabian Sea for 10 days. Its daily expenditure at sea is astronomical as the Viraat travels with an entire retinue of escort ships. A submarine was also reported to be in attendance and some defence experts questioned the justification of depriving the navy of its most effective fighting component merely to suit Rajiv's holiday plans. Considerable expense was also incurred in setting up a special satellite link up at Agatti for the duration of the holiday," the India Today report adds.

This has now triggered a major war of words between the BJP and the Congress with PM Modi, Union minister Arun Jaitley and several other leaders taking potshots at the Gandhis for using the INS Viraat for private vacations.