Modi a serial liar: Congress on PM's INS Viraat allegation

The Congress on Thursday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for alleging that the late Rajiv Gandhi used INS Viraat as "personal taxi" on a family vacation, saying he is a "serial liar" who does not have the courage to fight elections on issues such as unemployment and demonetisation.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said retired Indian Navy Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha has clarified that the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was on an official visit on INS Viraat and not on a vacation.

"But facts don't matter to Modi. He doesn't have anything to talk about his own achievements. Rahul Gandhi has been challenging him for last six months now to debate on Rafale deal, demonetisation, unemployment, but Modi does not have the courage to speak," he said at a press conference.

Taking a swipe at Modi for making allegations against Rajiv Gandhi who is no more, Khera said has any one read about former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru saying that his next election will be against Mughal emperor Humayun, or Indira Gandhi making her entire campaign against Queen Victoria.

"We are now hearing that. Modi ji tells us that 30 years ago Rajiv Gandhi went for a holiday in INS Viraat. Prime Minister is a serial liar. A senior official has exposed his lies today.Vice Admiral (retd) Vinod Pasricha appeared on channels some time back and stated that this is a lie and the then PM was on an official visit and not on a holiday," he said.

Khera said Modi is the first Prime Minister who asks for votes on his "failures" and Pulwama was an example of this.

"It was a big intelligence failure. We lost our soldiers due to this monumental failure in internal security," Khera alleged.

The Congress leader also dared Modi to name the people he takes on foreign trips.

"We have seen the campaign, there has been no mention of demonetisation. But you tremble when it is mentioned and hide behind Rajiv Gandhi," he said