After refusing to allow BJP president, Amit Shah's helicopter to land citing safety issues, the West Bengal government has now given permission to use the helipad at the airport in Malda district
After refusing to allow BJP president, Amit Shah's helicopter to land citing safety issues, the West Bengal government has now given permission to use the helipad at the ground opposite to Hotel Golden Park in Malda on January 22, news agency ANI reported on Monday.
Shah, who was recently treated for swine flu, is scheduled to address a public rally with Bharatiya Janata Party workers from north Bengal on Tuesday in Malda.
The district administration of Malda had said that it won't be possible for them to grant permission to land a helicopter at the airport, but have now granted the permission for Shah's helicopter to land on the ground in Hotel Golden Park located in Narayanpur, where the aircraft of chief minister Mamata Banerjee also lands.
“As per the report of the executive engineer, PWD (civil), Malda Division, up-gradation of work at Malda airport is going on in full swing. A large quantity of fine sand, dust and GSB materials is lying all along the runway and also stacked all around the site,” the letter on January 18 said.
“Moreover, the temporary helipad is not maintained properly due to this ongoing construction work. In this situation, Malda Airport is not suitable for safe landing of helicopters. Hence, granting of permission [for Amit Shah’s chopper] is not possible,” it further said.
Unhappy with the West Bengal government's earlier decision of not granting permission to the BJP president to land at the airport, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had said, "At same helipad, Mamataji's helicopter landed a few days ago. Some journalists went there, I have pictures, it is neat & clean. Helicopters are landing & can land. Based on baseless falsehood, by abuse of govt power, the helicopter of Amit Shahji had been denied."
The BJP’s general secretary of Malda unit had refuted the administration’s claims, saying it was already being used by the state government.
“The Malda airport is now being used by West Bengal government for landing their helicopter service every Wednesday. You’re saying that Malda airport us not suitable for safe landing, then why you are allowing helicopter of West Bengal government?” the BJP leader had asked.
Meanwhile, the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP were in a war of words over the opposition party’s planned rath yatras in the state.
The Supreme Court allowed the BJP to hold the rallies across the state even as it denied permission to the party to hold rath yatras after the Mamata Banerjee-led government raised objections citing law and order issues.
Amit Shah’s rally on Tuesday will be the BJP’s first in this year after it was deferred from January 20 to 22. The BJP president is scheduled to address five rallies in Bengal.
(With inputs from ANI)
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 "West Bengal govt allows Amit Shah’s chopper to land on a ground")
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