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This is an archive article published on September 25, 2006

Air-borne coup?

AV Krishnan, director of the Airports Authority of India, saw much more of Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda and his rebel MPs than political circles did in the days leading to the toppling of the Arjun Munda government. And with every flight, earning about Rs 1,500 to Rs 4,500 an hour for use of the airport, it8217;s been a good packet for Birsa Munda airport. Consider the air traffic:

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8226; Sept 5: Koda, with independent MLAs Hari Narain Rai and Bandhu Tirkey and JMM MP Sunil Mahato arrive from New Delhi by Club Air One flight and return

8226; Sept 13: Koda and UPA legislators come from New Delhi by a chartered Jet Airways flight

8226; Sept 20: RJD MP and Union Minister Prem Chand Gupta lands and takes off by Bharat Hotel Private Ltd8217;s chartered plane

8226; Sept 20: Congress state unit incharge Noor Bano lands by a Jindal Steel flight. The same day, Congress8217; Ranchi MP and Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay arrives by a Tourbo Aviation chartered flight

8226; Sept 21: All seven RJD MLAs fly to New Delhi by Jagson Aviation8217;s chartered plane. The same day, Koda with Enos Ekka, Rai and others dashes to New Delhi to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav by AR Aviation8217;s chartered flight

8226; Sept 22: All RJD MLAs return from New Delhi by AR Aviation8217;s aircraft

JETLAG: BJP MLA Karia Munda has already demanded a probe into the expenses and where the payment comes from. 8220;We demand a probe because only neutral investigators could let the nation know from where the money came to hire these chartered planes and topple our government,8221; said Munda. Koda was not available for comment but RJD spokesperson Manohar Yadav said: 8220;There is nothing wrong to fly by chartered flights. Even the BJP had used it to take NDA legislators to New Delhi and bring them back here last year.8221;

 

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