Ranchi, Nov 16 (PTI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing them of delaying his and Rahul Gandhi’s helicopters in Jharkhand and alleged that , despite holding the rank of cabinet minister, opposition leaders were not given access to the reserved airport lounge.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s helicopter, which was supposed to pick him up from Mahagama in Jharkhand’s Godda district after he addressed an election rally there, was stuck for about two hours on Friday, prompting accusations from the Congress that the delay it was politically motivated.

“Yesterday our leader Rahul Gandhi’s helicopter was deliberately delayed by two hours as the Prime Minister was sitting in his plane. Today, my helicopter was delayed by 20 minutes as Union Home Minister Amit Shah was landing. His path was separated and mine was separated.

“Rahul Gandhi ji who is the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha holds a ministerial rank and so do I. But in the reserved lounge of the airport, they (officials) say it is for PM Modi, I want to ask if even a toilet should be reserved for the PM,” Kharge claimed, without mentioning the name of the airport.

Attacking the BJP over the infiltration issue being looked into by the party, he alleged that Modi and Shah are scaring people even though they have the power to check it.

“PM Modi and Amit Shah sleeping? Why can’t they check the infiltration despite being in power? When I can stop a helicopter, why can’t I stop infiltrators?” he asked.

Kharge also accused the Center of using ED, CBI, IT against those helping the Congress and its allies.

He alleged that BJP wanted to form the government in Jharkhand to loot its natural resources.

Further attacking the BJP, he said, “They say ‘bant gaye toh kat gaye’ (if they are divided, we will be destroyed), I say ‘dar gaye toh mar gaye’ (if you are afraid, you die).” He also hailed the Sarna religious code as a symbol of tribal pride and stressed the need to protect it. PTI NAM/SAN ACD

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