india

Updated: May 10, 2020 21:08 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lashed out at the Congress for saying that he should not refer to the armed forces as his own and reminded that party that the late Rajiv Gandhi had used INS Viraat for his personal holiday.

‘Rahul Gandhi says the armed forces are no one’s personal forces. But the Gandhi used INS Viraat as their personal taxi when Rajiv Gandhi as Prime Minister was on a 10-day holiday. The ship was on duty but was diverted to pick up the Gandhis. Rajiv Gandhi’s in-laws were also present. Should foreigners have been carried on an Indians warship? Wasn’t this playing with India’s security?” he said at an election rally at Ramlila grounds in Delhi where he also took a swipe at the Aam Aadmi Party.

INS Viraat, India’s first aircraft carrier, was formally decommissioned in March 2017.

He went on to congratulate his own government for its anti-terror policy and hailed the designation of Jaish-e-Mohammad founder Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.

“‘What seemed impossible earlier is now possible. India is on the way to become one of the world’s safest countries.’

PM Modi who had drawn fire after saying at a rally that “Rajiv Gandhi’s life ended as corrupt no. 1”, also insisted that it was fair to refer the events in the former PM’s life.

“They want votes in the name of their ancestor but can’t stand any reference to their wrongdoings. If you ask for votes in some one’s name you should give an account of that person.”

Modi also took on the Aam Aadmi Party and accused it of stalling developments in the capital with its disruptive agenda.

‘They came to change the county but the changed themselves. They just made wild allegation against so many people and then knelt to apologise.’

He also accused the Delhi government of denying facilities to the poor.

“The Delhi government did not sign up for Ayushman Bharat which is meant to procide medical facilities for the poor. Delhi’s poor are also getting the benefit of 10% reservation that the Centre had announced.