Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee faced a significant travel disruption on Tuesday when his scheduled helicopter flight from Kolkata's Behala Flying Club was held back due to pending regulatory clearances. The incident caused a nearly two-hour delay in his departure for a public meeting in Birbhum district.
Flight Grounded at Behala, Last-Minute Arrangement Made
The TMC leader was scheduled to depart around 12:30 pm on Tuesday but was unable to take off as the mandatory clearances from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) were not received in time. According to sources, the helicopter in question was a new aircraft slated for its first operational flight that day, and some final regulatory certification and paperwork from Delhi were pending, which prompted the aviation regulator to halt its movement.
Faced with the delay, Banerjee made an urgent arrangement. He spoke to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and requested permission to use his helicopter for the onward journey. This alternative aircraft allowed him to finally depart from Kolkata around 2:20 pm, reaching the public meeting venue in Rampurhat, Birbhum, much later than planned.
Banerjee Blames 'Anti-Bengal Forces' for Conspiracy
Addressing the gathering in the afternoon, an assertive Abhishek Banerjee did not mince words. He squarely blamed the delay on what he termed a conspiracy by "Bangla Birodhis" (those who oppose Bengal). "I was late in reaching this venue because of a conspiracy by 'Bangla Birodhis'," he told the crowd.
He expressed his determination, stating, "I spoke to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, requesting him to allow me to use his helicopter so that I was able to reach this venue at a respectable time. If they are determined to stop me from reaching this meeting, I am 10 times more stubborn than they are." His comments pointed fingers at alleged "anti-Bengal forces" for intentionally delaying the necessary clearances to disrupt his political schedule.
Schedule Unaffected Despite Late Arrival
Despite the delayed start, Banerjee completed his full itinerary for the day. After addressing the public meeting in Rampurhat, he proceeded to visit Sunali Khatun's newborn son at the Rampurhat Medical College. Demonstrating his commitment to his planned route, he also made a visit to the Tarapith Kali Temple before commencing his return journey to Kolkata.
For his return trip, the TMC leader opted to travel by road, coming back to Kolkata by car. The series of events highlights the logistical challenges and political tensions that often surround the travel plans of high-profile political figures, especially during election seasons or key public engagements.
