Row over Rahul’s Prayagraj visit: Cong claims his plane denied permission, airport officials rebut charge

New Delhi: A controversy has broken over the cancellation of Rahul Gandhi’s proposed visit to Varanasi & Prayagraj visit last night.

Congress party claimed that the airport officials denied permission for landing of Rahul’s chartered plane and said that this was under pressure from district administration, a charge rebutted by the Varanasi airport officials.

Congress leader Ajay Rai alleged that Rahul’s plane was scheduled to land at Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri airport at around 10:45 PM last night but he wasn’t granted permission for the same. In the same breadth, he also said that BJP government of frightened of Rahul’s growing popularity and hence ‘blocked’ his visit to the holy town. He claimed that BJP was getting anxious & worried after Rahul’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and hence the ‘saffron machinery’ is trying to trouble the Waynad MP.

आप सब ही बतायें कौन किसपे अकेला भारी है ?? @RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/GQIfe6q7nh

— Ajay Rai (@kashikirai) February 13, 2023

The airport authorities were quick in refuting the ‘baseless’ charge leveled by Congress leaders. Varanasi airport officials said that the plan was cancelled by Rahul’s team only.

“Dear friends the aircraft operator has informed at 9:30 pm that aircraft carrying Sh Rahul Gandhi ji flew from Kannur to New Delhi and cancelled it’s plan to come at Varanasi,” the airport said in a statement.

The flight was cancelled by M/s AR Airways by sending email to AAI Varanasi Airport at 2116 hrs on 13 th Feb 2013.Please correct your statement as the flight was cancelled by operator.

— VARANASI AIRPORT (@AAIVNSAIRPORT) February 14, 2023

Rahul Gandhi was about to land in Varanasi, from where he would have to Prayagraj via road. He was about to attend a private event at night and then the meeting of Kamla Nehru Trust today (Tuesday) morning.

Notably, Rahul was to visit Varanasi on Monday, the same evening when President Droupadi Murmu landed in temple town and offered prayers at Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Kaal Bhairon temple. It was President’s first visit to Kashi and she also attended the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat in evening.