New Delhi: Sensing conspiracy in the delay in Narendra Modi’s flight from Delhi, BJP on Tuesday approached the Election Commission on the issue and sought directions to the Civil Aviation authorities for early clearances to its prime ministerial candidate.
In its complaint to Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath, BJP alleged “conspiracy” in the delay in Modi’s flight from Delhi to Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh that affected his election campaign as he reached hours behind schedule.
BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi sent the complaint to the CEC alleging that there seemed to be a conspiracy behind today’s delay in his helicopter flight.
However, aviation authorities on Tuesday said the main reason was his private charter aircraft did not have the air defence clearances needed at the air force station in Bareilly.
Aviation sources said Bareilly airport was under the Indian Air Force and hence all civilian aircraft required air defence clearances, which his aircraft did not have. They also said the private charter company, which was based in Ahmedabad, was filing flight plans just minutes before actual take off time, which was causing the delays. Due to this, air traffic control was not clearing the flights as no instruction reached them in time for the aircraft to take off on schedule, the sources said. (PTI)
