Is This Politics? Rahul Gandhi Faces Delays in Godda Amid Growing Controversy
Ranchi, Nov 15 (Agency) – Prime Minister Narendra Modi was stranded at Deoghar airport in Jharkhand for nearly two hours on Friday after his special Indian Air Force (IAF) plane developed a technical snag. The snag prevented the aircraft from taking off, causing a delay in the Prime Minister’s return journey to New Delhi after attending a function in Bihar.
PM Modi had addressed a rally in Jamui, Bihar, located around 80 km from Deoghar, marking the 150th birth anniversary of tribal leader Birsa Munda, an event commemorated as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas. After the rally, he was expected to return to Delhi on the IAF aircraft, but technical issues with the plane led to an unexpected delay.
Technical Snag and Wait at Deoghar Airport
According to Deoghar Deputy Commissioner Vishal Sagar, “PM Modi left for Delhi from Deoghar in another special aircraft after his IAF plane developed a technical snag. The aircraft could not be rectified on time, forcing the Prime Minister to wait for more than two hours.”
During the wait, the region’s airspace was temporarily declared a “no-flying zone” for security reasons. Officials worked to resolve the issue with the aircraft, but due to the extensive delay, a decision was made to fly PM Modi back to Delhi in an alternate plane.
Political Controversy: Rahul Gandhi Faces Similar Situation in Godda
In a related development, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi found himself in a similar predicament in Godda, Jharkhand. Gandhi’s helicopter, which was scheduled to take him back after an election rally, was also grounded for nearly two hours. This led to political allegations from the Congress party, claiming the delay was politically motivated.
State minister Deepika Pandey Singh accused the government of deliberately grounding Gandhi’s helicopter, stating, “Our leader Rahul Gandhi’s helicopter was not allowed to take off for about two hours, posing a grave threat to his life. This was a security lapse at the behest of the Centre.”
Both incidents have raised concerns over the coordination and management of air travel for high-profile political leaders in Jharkhand. While PM Modi’s delay was attributed to a technical issue with his IAF plane, the Congress party continues to assert that Gandhi’s delay was politically motivated, adding fuel to an ongoing political controversy in the state.
Security and Operational Impact
The technical snag that delayed PM Modi’s departure highlights the challenges faced in maintaining the readiness of aircraft used by top government officials. While the airspace was declared a no-fly zone for the safety and security of the Prime Minister, the issue of delays in high-level travel has prompted calls for better contingency planning and operational transparency.
The Jharkhand state government has yet to respond to the allegations regarding the grounding of Rahul Gandhi’s helicopter, and the political fallout from both incidents is likely to continue.
