From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: There were full-page advertisements in all newspapers on Friday as Prime Minister Modi launched what he claimed as India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
Congress general secretary and chief spokesman Jairam Ramesh tweeted that Modi should have said that it was then defence minister A K Antony who had launched India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on 12.08.2013 and he was only re-commissioning it on Friday.
He reminded Modi that “a self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) India existed before 2014.” He said all other Prime Ministers would have acknowledged “continuity in governance.”
In another tweet, Jairam said the indigenous carrier INS Vikrant’s commissioning is a collective effort of all the governments since 1999. Will PM acknowledge, he asked.
“Let’s also recall original INS Vikrant that served us well in 1971 war. Much reviled Krishna Menon played a key role in getting it from the UK,” he added.
RAHUL INDIFFERENT:
Intriguingly, Jairam’s contention is ignored by former Congress President Rahul Gandhi in his tweet: “India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier Vikrant is a significant step for India’s maritime security.”
“Many congratulations to the Indian Navy, the Naval Design Bureau and Cochin Shipyard for the many years of hard work that has made the vision of INS Vikrant come true,” he said.
