A day after Congress accused the Bihar government of not giving permission for Rahul Gandhi’s helicopter to land in Purnia, the Purnia District Magistrate (DM) issued a clarification on Friday, saying that since the station of the Purnia Air Force is not under the jurisdiction of the district administration, nor was any permission from the administration required, nor was any application submitted.
(Click here for full coverage of the 2020 Bihar assembly elections)
“The transit schedule for the Rahul Gandhi rally in Purnia was scheduled for October 23 at the Purnia Air Force Station. Preparations began according to security protocol and the ASL meeting was held. On the 22nd, we were informed about a revised program that did not include Purnia as a transit, ”said Purnia DM Rahul Kumar.
(Read: Rahul Gandhi to launch the Nawada, Bhagalpur campaign today)
“Purnia Air Force is not under the jurisdiction of the district administration. No permission to land was required from the administration and no application was made for it, so there is no question of denying it, ”said Kumar.
Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to start campaigning for Bihar’s upcoming assembly elections on Friday with rallies in Nawada and Bhagalpur. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, the top ministerial candidate of the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan, of which Congress is a part, is expected to stand with Gandhi.
After heading to his second rally, in Bhagalpur, the former Congress president was due to return to Delhi via Purnia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also start campaigning for the polls today with three consecutive rallies in Sasaram, Gaya and, like Gandhi, in Bhagalpur.
(Read: PM Modi to kick off the Sasaram election campaign; to present the NDA development agenda)
Bihar will vote in three phases on October 28, November 3 and November 7. The vote count will take place on November 10.
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