Rahul Gandhi's Chopper Stuck In Jharkhand After Failing To Get Clearance From ATC

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's helicopter was grounded in Godda, Jharkhand, purportedly due to ATC clearance delays.

Rahul Gandhi is campaigning for the INDIA bloc in Jharkhand for the final phase of the Assembly polls.

Source : PTI

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's helicopter was stranded in Jharkhand's Godda on Friday after failing to get clearance from the Air Traffic Control. The Congress has alleged that this was a deliberate attempt to throw Rahul Gandhi's election campaign in the state off course before the final phase of the assembly polls. 

The chopper did not receive clearance for about 45 minutes and was stranded. Videos from the spot showed Rahul Gandhi sitting inside the helicopter awaiting permission to take off.

Hey Narendra Modi,

Why so scared from LOP @RahulGandhi, it's been more than 2 hours and the permission for take off of Rahul Gandhi's helicopter is not being given in Godda

Rahul Gandhi has to address huge rally in Bermo, Jharkhand but ATC is not giving the permission

Earlier… pic.twitter.com/cjlLHIUER1

— Anshuman Sail Nehru (@AnshumanSail) November 15, 2024

Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to address a public meeting in Bermo and had to fly to the venue in the chopper. The Congress alleged that this was a deliberate move of the ATC because PM Narendra Modi was addressing a rally in Chakai, which is around 150 km away from Bermo.

Earlier this week, a similar incident happened with JMM leader and CM Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana Soren when her chopper did not receive flight clearance for nearly 50 minutes.

Reacting to the incident, Deepika Pandey Singh, MLA and Congress candidate from Mahagama Constituency said: "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."

Rahul Gandhi's chopper eventually took off at 2:50 PM.

VIDEO | Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's helicopter takes off from Jharkhand's Godda after getting clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC). pic.twitter.com/lp8Zl1xL8y

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 15, 2024