BJP blames ‘dirty politics’ after Smriti Irani’s chopper fails to land in Punjab market
“Her pilot was trained but the Punjab government played dirty politics by not allowing it to land,” said BJP candidate Parampal Kaur Sidhu Maluka.
3 min read
The chopper was to land at the Mansa grain market between 2 pm and 3 pm on Tuesday (Express Image)A political row erupted Tuesday after Union Minister Smriti Irani’s chopper couldn’t land at the Mansa grain market in Punjab where she was to address a rally in favour of BJP candidate Parampal Kaur Sidhu Maluka. Irani had to return without addressing the gathering.
While Parampal claimed that the chopper was denied permission to land, the district administration said clearance had been granted to the pilot, who had failed to and due to some confusion.
“The minister was to come by road and at the last minute she had a change of plane and decided to come to Mansa in a chopper. Despite the last minute change, we had given due permission to the chopper for landing at the Mansa grain market between 2 pm and 3 pm. It seems that the pilot had some confusion in landing or there was some technical fault,” Paramvir Singh, Mansa deputy commissioner, told the Indian Express.
Parampal, however, claimed that the “chopper kept on seeking permission to land and it made multiple rounds” from Bathinda to Mansa while waiting for approval. “As it didn’t get permission, it had to go back. There was a huge rush at the rally and people, especially the women voters, were waiting to hear her. But, the Punjab government played their dirty trick,” Parampal alleged.
“It was for the first time that the minister was travelling by a chopper. Her pilot was trained but the Punjab government played dirty politics by not allowing it to land as they were stumped looking at the gathering. Now, the minister has assured that she will address the audience via video call,” she added.
BJP state president Sunil Jakhar, who was in Ludhiana, along with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, said, “There were issues in sending the coordinate signals to the chopper pilot due to which he couldn’t land. This shows the ill planning on part of the Punjab government. The chopper kept hovering for about 30 minutes before returning.
Lashing out at the AAP government, Parampal, said, “I want to ask the Punjab government what problem they have with me. Firs, they created a problem in accepting my resignation while many other officers have also contested elections after seeking voluntary retirement service and now they do this. They can shoot me if they want but I will contest the poll”.
The deputy commissioner, however, refused to comment on the allegations raised by the BJP leaders.
“We are trying to find out more from the team of the union minister,” the DC added.
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