Helicopter detained at Delhi, conspiracy by BJP: Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday alleged that his helicopter has been detained in Delhi and he was not allowed to go to Muzaffarnagar. Taking to Twitter he further alleged that it was a "desperate conspiracy" by the BJP.

MUZAFFARNAGAR: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday alleged that his helicopter has been detained in Delhi and he was not allowed to go to Muzaffarnagar. Taking to Twitter he further alleged that it was a "desperate conspiracy" by the BJP.

The SP chief said that a top BJP leader has just flown from Delhi. "My helicopter is still detained in Delhi without assigning any reason and is not being allowed to go to Muzaffarnagar. While a top BJP leader has just flown from here. This is a desperate conspiracy of the losing BJP. People are understanding everything...," tweeted Akhilesh.

Describing the incident as " abuse of power", he said that the incident will be recorded in the history of the socialist struggle. "Abuse of power is a sign of the people losing… This day will also be recorded in the history of socialist struggle! We are going to take a historic flight of victory…," he stated in another tweet.

Later in the day, he urged the Election Commission (EC) to look into the incident adding that if someone has to attend a rally, then how will he work if his chopper is stopped for so long.

"I was in the chopper for over two hours... I am hoping that EC looks into it... If someone has to go for a rally, how will they work if their chopper is stopped for so long...seems like BJP will do anything before polls," said Akhilesh.

"People told me that BJP leaders had taken off before me... I was told about air traffic...but no air traffic for BJP leaders who had taken off? They didn't have to wait while I had to wait for over 2 hours... no matter what BJP does, people of UP will remove them," he added.

Reacting to Samajwadi Party (SP) chief's allegations Delhi airport official on Friday said that his helicopter for Muzaffarnagar was delayed due to high air traffic. "Akhilesh Yadav's chopper was not granted permission by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to fly initially because of high air traffic. After the clearance was given, the chopper had less fuel. After refuelling, the chopper flew to the destined place," he added.

Addressing a joint press conference earlier in the day with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD)President Jayant Chaudhary, Akhilesh alleged that the BJP government at the Centre withdrew the farm laws only for votes. "The BJP had promised to double the income of farmers but it brought the three anti-farmer laws. The farmers forced the government to repeal the laws. The BJP rolled back the laws for the sake of votes. The BJP is a party, which brings laws without telling anything," he said.

The SP chief asserted on coming to power, their party won't implement any such law in the state and said he and Jayant are taking forward the cause of farmers championed by former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh, his father Mulayam Singh Yadav and the late farmer leader Mahendra Singh Tikait.

" Whenever SP does any good work for the people, the Chief Minister's language changes," said Akhilesh. He also said that the next government in Uttar Pradesh will safeguard the interests of farmers and the youth.

"The old pension system will be restored, if money has to be given from the budget too, it will be given," he added. Earlier in the day Akhilesh and Rashtriya Lok Dal President Jayant Chaudhary held a joint press conference in Muzaffarnagar following which he left for Delhi from Lucknow. He was scheduled to return to Muzaffarnagar in a private helicopter.

Jayant said earlier people had doubts if the both parties would forge an alliance. "Our confluence had taken place much earlier. We want UP to develop and have forged the alliance as we want to take the fight of Chaudhary Charan Singh ahead," Jayant said remembering his grandfather.

With agency inputs