By Flying In A Sukhoi, Minister Kiren Rijiju Will Join This Exclusive Club

New Delhi: At the crack of dawn on Wednesday, one of the youngest ministers in the Modi Cabinet, Kiren Rijiju, will join the exclusive club - that of Presidents and ministers who have flown in an Indian Air Force or IAF fighter.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, 44, will fly out of the forward air base Halwara in Punjab in a Russian made Sukhoi Su-30 for a 30 minute sortie. He is likely fly over Jammu and Kashmir during the sortie.

President APJ Abdul Kalam, President Prathiba Patil, former Defence Minister George Fernandez are some people who have flown in IAF fighter. Kiren Rijiju is, perhaps, the first minister without a direct connection to defence who will fly in a fighter jet of the IAF.
 Earlier this month, Air Chief Air Marshal Arup Raha had written to Mr Rijiju requesting him fly the supersonic jet.

"Our main aim is to familiarize the minister on what the Indian Air Force does," a top IAF commander told NDTV.

On Tuesday, Air Chief Air Marshal Arup Raha flew the Indian-made fighter Tejas. The first squadron of Tejas will be raised this July.