Fact Check: Congress makes false claim over Rahul Gandhi being denied permission to land in Varanasi

The Congress claimed that the Varanasi airport authorities had denied permission to Rahul Gandhi to land at Varanasi citing a visit by President Draupadi Murmu

Congress leader Ajay Rai claimed that Rahul Gandhi was denied permission to land at the Varanasi airport in Uttar Pradesh.

He said that the authorities denied Rahul Gandhi permission to land at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport at Varanasi on the pretext that President of India, Draupadi Murmu was paying a visit.

Rai went on to ad that Rahul Gandhi's flight was scheduled to land at the Varanasi airport on Monday night, but was deliberately denied permission. Rai also alleged that Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to arrive in Varanasi and then go to Prayagraj, but the airport authorities did not allow the plane to land due to pressure from the government. They said that there was heavy aircraft movement and hence permission was not granted.

He also added that the Prime Minister of the country has been anxious since Rahul Gandhi led the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Now they are troubling him, Rai also added. "I along with other party leaders were at the airport to receive Rahul Gandhi. However, his plane was not allowed to land at the last minute. Rahul Gandhi then returned to New Delhi," Rai said according to news agency PTI.

Rai also said that the authorities told them that there was a traffic jam here and permission was deliberately not given.

Reportedly President Draupadi Murmu also visited the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple on Monday evening after she offered prayers at the Kotwal Baba Kaal Bharav Temple at Varanasi.

Rahul Gandhi, a Congress MP from Kerala was scheduled to arrive in Varanasi on Monday night to offer prayers at the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple on Monday.

However these allegations were denied by the Varanasi Airport authorities. Taking to Twitter, Varanasi Airport said, 'the flight was cancelled by M/s AR Airways by sending email to AAI Varanasi Airport at 2116 hrs on 13th Feb. Please correct your statement as the flight was cancelled by the operator.

Varanasi Airport director, Aryama Sanyal in a statement said that there was no prior information about Gandhi's arrival. She denied allegations that the authorities had refused permission for Gandhi's plane to land. "The air traffic controller was told the plan to land at the airport has been cancelled," Sanyal said.

Hence it is clear that the statement made by Ajay Rai about Rahul Gandhi being denied permission to land at the Varanasi airport is false. The Airport authorities have clarified that it was the carrier itself which had cancelled the flight. While clarifying the authorities also urged Rai to correct his statement.