Sitapur, UP:
A visibly-irritated Rahul Gandhi has denied reports that he forced the pilot of his helicopter to land in poor visibility in Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh on Monday evening.
"I am a pilot and I am absolutely the last person who will do that. I understand the dangers of flying in bad weather, bad visibility. The pilot has taken a decision and he has not broken any rule. You (reporters) are making a story out of it and destroying their career," he said.
However, it's not the media but his own party's president in UP who accused Gandhi of pressuring his pilot. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Rita Bahuguna told reporters that "there was zero visibility when the helicopter landed in Sitapur. The pilot was not ready to land but he eventually did so on because Rahul insisted on it".
That's corroborated by local government officials. In a report submitted to the state government, the Sitapur District Magistrate has said that Rahul Gandhi breached security norms. The report says Rahul landed at 5:30 pm after sunset when there was poor visibility. The report also says that local officials were given incorrect information about what time Gandhi would land by the Special Protection Group (SPG) which surrounds Gandhi. The report adds that Gandhi did not travel in a bullet-proof car sent for him; instead, he chose a private SUV.
Gandhi's security during his visits to UP have been an ongoing battle between Mayawati's government and the Centre. Mayawati, who has not been pleased with Gandhi's attempts to revive his party in her state, has been accused of trying to deny Gandhi adequate security.
However, her officials repeatedly say that Gandhi's SPG violates protocol by not sharing information about his trips to different parts of UP.
If anything happens to Rahul, Centre to blame: UP
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday shot off a letter to the Centre over alleged violation of security norms during Rahul Gandhi's visit to the state, saying the Congress leader was not travelling in a bullet-proof car and that his chopper had landed in zero visibility conditions.
"The government in its letter sent to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has requested it to ensure that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is an SPG protectee, does not violate security norms during his future visit to the state," Additional Cabinet Secretary V S Pandey said.
The government had requested the Centre that the programme of SPG protectees should be provided to the state well in advance and no last-minute changes should be made, he said. "In case if sudden changes are made, the state machinery should be informed immediately, otherwise if any incident occurs, the state should not be held responsible. It will be the Centre to blame," he added.
Pandey alleged that the tour programme of Gandhi was provided only on Sunday.
"Even the ASL (advance security liaison) was provided a day before his visit, due to which problems were faced in making adequate security arrangements," he claimed.
"In Etah, the Congress leader, instead of using a bullet-proof car, travelled in a party vehicle. He also broke the security cordon and shook hands with people at the airfield," Pandey said.
"I am a pilot and I am absolutely the last person who will do that. I understand the dangers of flying in bad weather, bad visibility. The pilot has taken a decision and he has not broken any rule. You (reporters) are making a story out of it and destroying their career," he said.
However, it's not the media but his own party's president in UP who accused Gandhi of pressuring his pilot. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Rita Bahuguna told reporters that "there was zero visibility when the helicopter landed in Sitapur. The pilot was not ready to land but he eventually did so on because Rahul insisted on it".
That's corroborated by local government officials. In a report submitted to the state government, the Sitapur District Magistrate has said that Rahul Gandhi breached security norms. The report says Rahul landed at 5:30 pm after sunset when there was poor visibility. The report also says that local officials were given incorrect information about what time Gandhi would land by the Special Protection Group (SPG) which surrounds Gandhi. The report adds that Gandhi did not travel in a bullet-proof car sent for him; instead, he chose a private SUV.
Gandhi's security during his visits to UP have been an ongoing battle between Mayawati's government and the Centre. Mayawati, who has not been pleased with Gandhi's attempts to revive his party in her state, has been accused of trying to deny Gandhi adequate security.
However, her officials repeatedly say that Gandhi's SPG violates protocol by not sharing information about his trips to different parts of UP.
If anything happens to Rahul, Centre to blame: UP
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday shot off a letter to the Centre over alleged violation of security norms during Rahul Gandhi's visit to the state, saying the Congress leader was not travelling in a bullet-proof car and that his chopper had landed in zero visibility conditions.
"The government in its letter sent to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has requested it to ensure that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is an SPG protectee, does not violate security norms during his future visit to the state," Additional Cabinet Secretary V S Pandey said.
The government had requested the Centre that the programme of SPG protectees should be provided to the state well in advance and no last-minute changes should be made, he said. "In case if sudden changes are made, the state machinery should be informed immediately, otherwise if any incident occurs, the state should not be held responsible. It will be the Centre to blame," he added.
Pandey alleged that the tour programme of Gandhi was provided only on Sunday.
"Even the ASL (advance security liaison) was provided a day before his visit, due to which problems were faced in making adequate security arrangements," he claimed.
"In Etah, the Congress leader, instead of using a bullet-proof car, travelled in a party vehicle. He also broke the security cordon and shook hands with people at the airfield," Pandey said.
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