Congress claims Rahul Gandhi's plane denied permission to land at Varanasi Airport, Airport authority refutes charges

The Varanasi airport authorities refuted the allegations after the Congress party claimed that Rahul Gandhi's plane was denied permission to land at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport in Varanasi on Monday. Congress leader Ajay Rai said the airport authorities did not grant permission because they were under pressure and that they used President Droupadi Murma's visit as an "excuse".

He said Rahul Gandhi's flight was supposed to land at the Varanasi airport on Monday evening but was "deliberately" not given permission. Refuting the allegations, the Varanasi airport said, "The charter jet company carrying Rahul Gandhi has itself canceled the flight." In a reply on Twitter, the airport said, "The flight was canceled by M/s AR Airways by sending an email to AAI Varanasi Airport at 2116 hours on 13 February 2013. Please correct your statement as the flight was canceled by the operator."

Rai alleged, "Rahul Gandhi was supposed to fly here and then go to Prayagraj, but the airport authorities did not allow his plane to land due to pressure from the government. They said there was heavy movement of planes and the officials deliberately did not give permission."  "The prime minister of the country has been worried ever since Rahul Gandhi led the Bharat Jodo Jatra. It's bothering him now," he added.

Rai said he and other party leaders were at the airport to receive their leader but his plane was not allowed to land "at the last moment". Gandhi then returned to the national capital. The Congress MP was scheduled to reach Varanasi on Monday evening to offer prayers at the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple today.