PM Modi's Aircraft Faces Snag, Rahul’s Chopper Forced to Halt 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aircraft suffered a technical snag at Deoghar. While, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi’s helicopter remained grounded in Godda awaiting clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC). All happened today in the poll-bound state of Jharkhand. 

In this afternoon, an aircraft that carries PM Modi suffered a technical snag at Deoghar. The aircraft will now have to remain at the airport until the technical fault is fixed and another plane is being sent to Deoghar from New Delhi, causing a delay in the PM's return to the capital. 

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi faced an unexpected delay today as his helicopter remained grounded in Jharkhand's Godda awaiting clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC). The chopper was allowed to take off after a delay of 45 minutes amid high-stakes campaigning for the final phase of the state's assembly elections.

The Congress claimed the hold-up was a calculated move to disrupt Mr Gandhi's campaign schedule. Party leaders pointed fingers at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Chakai, about 150 kilometres from Godda, suggesting that the ATC's decision prioritised the PM's event over Mr Gandhi's movements.

"Just because the PM is in Deogarh, Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to cross that area...There is the protocol we understand but Congress ruled the country for 70 years and such an incident never happened with any opposition leader. This is not acceptable," said Deepika Pandey Singh, MLA and Congress candidate from Mahagama Constituency.

Meanwhile, around 80 km away at the Deoghar airport, Prime Minister Modi's aircraft experienced a technical snag due to which the aircraft had to remain at the airport. The Prime Minister addressed two rallies in Jharkhand today on the occasion of tribal icon Birsa Munda anniversary, which is celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, and ahead of the second round of polling for the Assembly elections in the state on November 20.