Congress leader Ahmed Patel hit out at the BJP on Thursday for its attack on the late Rajiv Gandhi, saying the former Prime Minister lost his life due to hatred as the then BJP-backed government refused to provide him additional security.

Patel tweeted that abusing a "martyred" Prime Minster was a sign of ultimate cowardice. He alleged that the then V.P. Singh government had left Rajiv Gandhi with only one PSO (personal security officer) despite credible intelligence inputs and repeated requests.

"Rajivji lost his life due to their hatred and is no longer here amongst us to answer the baseless allegations and abuses which are being unleashed on him," he tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that Rajiv Gandhi had used aircraft carrier INS Viraat and its personnel for vacations with his in-laws.

--IANS

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