Airlines should not bend rules even for me: Patel

New Delhi, Nov 4 (UNI) Union Minister and RJD MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh, who had allegedly assaulted a Kingfisher staff for not allowing him to board a Patna-Kolkota flight for being late, today got little support from Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel with Mr Patel saying the airlines should not bend rules even for him.

''This is not a civil aviation ministry issue. The airlines have their own rules and regulations,'' he said.

''And if they have to leave or shut the doors of their aircraft as per schedule, they should not bend rules, even for me,'' Mr Patel told reporters, when asked to comment on the complaint made by Mr Singh against the Kingfisher station manager at Patna airport.

The RJD MP had alleged that he was not allowed to board even though he had arrived 15 minutes before the flight was to leave and had already got the boarding pass.

However, the manager, Sagar Nath Singh, denied the allegation. In an FIR, he stated that the Minister arrived at the airport at 2030 hrs after the door of the aircraft was closed and insisted on being allowed to board the plane.

''When he was denied entry, he assaulted and abused me.'' the manager said.

UNI YJ RR NS1548