NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s helicopter was halted in Jharkhand’s Godda on Friday after the Air Traffic Control did not grant permission for takeoff.
The Congress has alleged that this was a deliberate attempt to throw Rahul’s election campaign in the state off course before the final phase of the assembly polls.
“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,” MLA and Congress candidate from Mahagama Constituency Deepika Pandey Singh said.
The Congress alleged that this was a deliberate move by the ATC because PM Narendra Modi was addressing a rally in Chakai, which is around 150 km away from Godda.
This comes days after Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren sought the President’s intervention over the delay in his chopper takeoff due to concerns over PM Narendra Modi’s security.
Kalpana Soren had also alleged that she was prevented from flying to campaign in Latehar and blamed the BJP and opposition parties for hindering her party’s efforts to reach the people.