Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SR)

New Delhi, May 9: "Nobody believes Rajiv Gandhi died due to corruption allegations, even I don’t believe it. He died in an LTTE planned assassination. I have lot of respect for Modi ji, but it was not necessary for him to speak against Rajiv Gandhi," said Srinivasa Prasad, in response to queries from the ANI media, as reported in NDTV.

Srinivasa Prasad, a former Parliamentarian who served as a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, said he knew the late Gandhi too well from close quarters, and assured that the late PM never indulged in corruption.

Referring to the allegations of corruption that had surfaced against Rajiv Gandhi in the Bofors case, PM Modi on last week said at a rally in Uttar Pradesh “Your father was termed 'Mr Clean' by his courtiers, but his life ended as ''Bhrashtachari No 1''.

Modi’s remarks sparked angry reactions from the Congress leaders, and AICC president Rahul Gandhi told him that “Karma awaits you. Projecting your inner beliefs about yourself onto my father won’t protect you.” The Congress party even moved the Election Commission on this issue.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also lashed out at PM Modi and said, "People who lay down their lives for the country, they should be respected. Yesterday, you called Rajiv Gandhi corrupted Prime Minister. Today you are calling me 'tolabaaz'. If I am a tolabaaz, what are you? What are you? Your entire body - from head to feet - is drenched in the blood of people. Only riots and only riots."