Abhishek Banerjee’s Chopper Delayed, TMC Alleges BJP Plot
Trinamool leader reaches Birbhum rally an hour late after using Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s helicopter.
- Abhishek Banerjee’s helicopter delayed due to DGCA clearance
- Trinamool alleges BJP conspiracy behind hurdle
- Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren provides aircraft
- Banerjee reaches Birbhum after one-hour delay
GG News Bureau
Rampurhat, 7th Jan: Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee reached Rampurhat in Birbhum district about an hour later than scheduled on Tuesday after clearance for his helicopter was delayed.
The Diamond Harbour MP was slated to address a public rally, offer prayers at the Tarapith Kali temple and meet Birbhum migrant Sunali Khatun, who recently gave birth after being pushed back to Bangladesh by Delhi Police. However, mandatory clearance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for his helicopter did not arrive in time.
Sources said the Trinamool Congress reached out to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who dispatched his helicopter to Behala Flying Club airstrip in western Kolkata to facilitate Banerjee’s travel to Birbhum, around 200 km away. After securing the necessary permissions, Banerjee finally took off, though with a delay of nearly an hour.
The Trinamool Congress alleged a “BJP conspiracy” behind the administrative hurdle. Party MP Samirul Islam claimed the BJP was misusing the DGCA to create obstacles, saying the ruling party was unsettled by Banerjee’s public outreach yatra, Abar Jitbe Bangla.
Despite the delay, Banerjee proceeded to Birbhum to meet the gathered supporters, with Trinamool leaders asserting that the episode underlined his commitment to keeping his public engagements.
