Rahul Gandhi's chopper stuck in Jharkhand's Godda, Congress cries foul play

In a significant disruption to his election campaign, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s helicopter was grounded in Godda, Jharkhand, on Friday, reportedly due to delays in obtaining clearance from the Air Traffic Control (ATC). The incident has sparked a political controversy, with the Congress party alleging that the delay was a deliberate move to hamper Gandhi's campaign ahead of the final phase of the state assembly elections.

Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to address a public meeting in Bermo, and his helicopter was the planned mode of transport to the venue. However, the chopper remained stranded on the tarmac in Godda for nearly 45 minutes as it awaited clearance from the ATC. Videos circulating from the scene showed the Congress leader seated inside the helicopter, visibly waiting for permission to take off.

The Congress party has strongly reacted to the delay, claiming that the incident was no accident but a deliberate effort to stall Gandhi’s campaign activities. The timing of the incident further fueled these accusations, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing a rally in Chakai, which is located around 150 km away from Bermo, on the same day.

The delay in the chopper's clearance raised questions about the fairness of the ATC's actions, with the Congress alleging that it could have been politically motivated. As of the latest updates, the chopper had still not received the necessary clearance, and the incident continued to unfold.

This event comes at a critical time for Rahul Gandhi as he seeks to gain momentum in Jharkhand ahead of the elections. The Congress party’s accusations against the ATC have added fuel to the ongoing political discourse around the election process.