Lucknow: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday sought to nip in the bud a possible controversy when he made it clear that he did not force the helicopter pilot to land in zero visibility conditions in Sitapur on Monday evening.
"I am a pilot and I am absolutely aware of the dangers of flying in low visibility conditions.I will be the last person to do it," he told a press conference, dismissing UPCC President Rita Bahuguna Joshi's comments that he had forced the pilot to land in bad conditions.
"The PCC President is not a pilot. I have not put any pressure on the pilot. The pilot called me aside this morning and told me that the media was creating a controversy and putting my job in trouble. He has not broken any rule. You are
making a story and destroying their career. This is not fair," he said.
To questions on Rita Bahuguna Joshi's remarks, 39-year-old Rahul Gandhi said that she is not a pilot and she is also not a weather expert. There was plenty of visibility when the helicopter landed, he said.
Rita Bahuguna Joshi had earlier said Rahul had asked the pilot of the helicopter to land in "zero visibility" just to fulfill his commitment of meeting people.
"It was unbelievable when we landed the helicopter at zero visiblity. He risked his life but kept his promise. He is really making efforts to improve the administration of Uttar Pradesh" — UPCC Chief, Rita Bahuguna Joshi to CNN-IBN
Rahul Gandhi said it was not fair to state that the helicopter landed in zero visibility and he would be absolutely the last person who will do that.
"Absolutely, no. You can also ask the Special Protection Group (SPG) if I have broken any rules or procedures," he said, adding that one should check up with the SPG director that on every occasion he has taken permission and done things.
"I don't know anything about it. it is very unfair to comment on it," said Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel.
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