Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aircraft encountered a technical snag at Deoghar, Jharkhand, this afternoon. Following the issue, he departed for Delhi on an Indian Air Force plane dispatched from New Delhi, after a delay of over two hours. According to sources, the fault was detected while the Prime Minister was aboard the plane, preparing for takeoff. The aircraft was subsequently grounded at Deoghar, with attempts made to fix the issue before the arrival of the IAF plane.
Earlier that day, PM Modi addressed a rally in Bihar’s Jamui district, approximately 80 km from Deoghar, commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of tribal leader Birsa Munda, celebrated as ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Divas’.
Simultaneously, in Godda district, Jharkhand, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s helicopter was grounded for about 45 minutes, awaiting air traffic control clearance. The Congress party alleged that this delay was a deliberate attempt to disrupt Mr. Gandhi’s campaign schedule, suggesting that priority was given to the Prime Minister’s movements. The helicopter was eventually permitted to take off after the delay.
During his rally, PM Modi criticised the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, reiterating his “shehzada” (prince) remark. He accused Mr. Gandhi of conspiring to abolish reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC), aiming to weaken these communities. The Prime Minister referenced past statements by Mr. Gandhi’s father, alleging that he had equated reservations to slavery and had campaigned against them.
PM Modi also accused the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), allied with the Congress, of facilitating infiltrators to become permanent residents of Jharkhand, a claim echoed by other BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah.
In contrast, at his rally in Godda, Rahul Gandhi advocated for a nationwide caste census, asserting that it would transform India. He pledged to dismantle the 50% reservation cap, challenging PM Modi to oppose the move.
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The second phase of polling for the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly is scheduled for November 20, with vote counting set for November 23.
