Rahul Gandhi Chopper Takes Off After Brief Halt, Congress Alleged Conspiracy

Godda: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, faced an unexpected delay today as his helicopter remained grounded in Jharkhand’s Godda awaiting clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC). 

The chopper was allowed to take off after a delay of 45 minutes amid high-stakes campaigning for the final phase of the state’s assembly elections.

The Congress claimed the hold-up was a calculated move to disrupt Mr Gandhi’s campaign schedule. Party leaders pointed fingers at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally near Deoghar, suggesting that the ATC’s decision prioritised the PM’s event over Mr Gandhi’s movements.

“Just because the PM is in Deogarh, Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to cross that area…There is the protocol we understand but Congress ruled the country for 70 years and such an incident never happened with any opposition leader. This is not acceptable,” said Deepika Pandey Singh, MLA and Congress candidate from Mahagama Constituency.

Hitting out at the BJP earlier today, Mr Gandhi alleged that the party does not care about Backward Classes.

“In Jharkhand, BJP had reduced the reservation for backward classes from 27% to 14%. On one hand Narendra Modi gives a speech saying- I belong to the backward class. On the other hand, they reduce the reservation for backward classes, snatch away your land and make you unemployed through demonetisation,” he said. 

Around 80 km away at the Deoghar airport, Prime Minister Modi’s aircraft experienced a technical snag due to which the aircraft had to remain at the airport causing a delay in his return to Delhi. PM Modi is scheduled to be in the national capital this evening where he will inaugurate an event at the SAI Indira Gandhi Sports Complex. 

The second phase of Jharkhand’s assembly elections will take place on November 20. The first phase of voting concluded on November 14 for 43 of the state’s 81 seats. The election results will be counted on November 23.