Ranchi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing them of delaying helicopters of his and Rahul Gandhi in Jharkhand, and alleged that despite holding cabinet minister rank, the opposition leaders were not given access to a reserved airport lounge.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s helicopter, which was supposed to take him from Mahagama in Jharkhand’s Godda district after he addressed an election rally there, was grounded for about two hours on Friday, prompting allegations from the Congress that the delay was politically motivated.
Prime Minister Modi was stranded at Deoghar airport for nearly two hours on Friday and a ‘no-fly zone’ was declared in the region’s airspace as the PM waited for the issue to be resolved, officials said.
Addressing a rally in Jamtara, Kharge also alleged that both he and Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, were denied access to a reserved lounge at an airport, a privilege typically extended to officials of their stature.
“I, Rahul hold cabinet minister rank but were not allowed into the airport reserved lounge. They (officials) say it is for Prime Minister Modi. I want to ask, can even a toilet be reserved for the PM?” Kharge said.
The Congress president smelled political motives behind delays in helicopter operations for opposition leaders. He claimed that Gandhi’s chopper was grounded for nearly two hours on Friday due to PM Modi’s prolonged stay in his plane.
“BJP is creating obstacles for us. Yesterday, PM caused delay in Rahul Gandhi’s helicopter because he was sitting in his plane. Today my chopper was delayed by 20 minutes because Amit Shah was landing,” Kharge charged.
In response to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s slogan ‘batenge tho katenge’ (if divided, we will be wiped out) and PM Modi’s ‘ek hai to safe hai‘ (unity ensures safety) pitch, Kharge fired back with, “Dar gaye toh mar gaye” (if you are afraid, you die).
Kharge also took aim at the Prime Minister’s claims regarding Bangladeshi infiltration in Jharkhand, accusing the BJP of fear-mongering.
“Nation’s security lies with you (PM). Instead of checking infiltration, you are frightening people,” he said. “Are PM Modi, Amit Shah sleeping? Why can’t they check infiltration despite being in power?”
Prime Minister Modi, at his rallies in Jharkhand, accused the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led coalition government of supporting Bangladeshi infiltrators to secure votes. He labelled the ruling coalition a “ghuspaithiya bandhan” (infiltrators’ alliance), alleging they were altering the demographics of tribal-dominated areas for political gain.
“They want to tear the fabric of social harmony and support illegal immigrants. They are settling Bangladeshi intruders across Jharkhand to get their vote,” the PM claimed.
The Jharkhand Assembly elections are set to take place in two phases, covering 43 constituencies on November 13 and 38 on November 20. The results will be announced on November 23.
