'I did not force chopper pilot to land in zero visibility', says Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today sought to nip in the bud a possible controversy when he made it clear that he did not force the helicopter pilot to land in zero visibility conditions in Sitapur last evening.

"I am a pilot and I am absolutely aware of the dangers of flying in low visibility conditions. I will be the last person to do it," he told a press conference, dismissing UPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi's comments that he had forced the pilot to land in bad conditions.

"The PCC president is not a pilot. I have not put any pressure on the pilot. The pilot called me aside this morning and told me that the media was creating a controversy and putting my job in trouble. He has not broken any rule. You are making a story and destroying their career. This is not fair," he said.

To questions on Joshi's remarks, 39-year-old Gandhi said that she is not a pilot and she is also not a weather expert. There was plenty of visibility when the helicopter landed, he said.

Joshi had earlier said Rahul had asked the pilot of the helicopter to land in "zero visibility" just to fulfill his commitment of meeting people.Gandhi said it was not fair to state that the helicopter landed in zero visibility and he would be absolutely the last person who will do that.

"Absolutely, no. You can also ask the Special Protection Group (SPG) if I have broken any rules or procedures," he said, adding that one should check up with the SPG director that on every occasion he has taken permission and done things.

Noting that the pilot was aware of what he was doing, Gandhi said, "It (the landing) was done completely according to the procedure and absolutely no pressure was applied.

"He (the pilot) is crying right now, because he is saying my career is over because the media people have put this in the newspaper. Please do something. It is not fair on them to write such a story without checking it," the Congress MP said.

"You ask the SPG. Not once have I broken security rules. You can go, call up the Director SPG and ask him this question (if) Rahul Gandhi has ever broken your security procedures? Every single thing I do, the Director SPG is fully aware of and gives me permission to do that," Gandhi added.