PM Modi's Aircraft Faces Technical Snag In Jharkhand's Deoghar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aircraft encountered a technical fault at Deoghar in Jharkhand this afternoon.

As a result, the aircraft will remain at the airport until the issue is resolved, with another plane being dispatched from New Delhi to facilitate the PM's return to the capital, causing a delay.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi addressed two rallies in Jharkhand to mark the anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda, observed as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, and ahead of the second phase of polling for the state's Assembly elections on November 20.

Approximately 80 km from Deoghar, in Godda, Rahul Gandhi's helicopter was grounded for 45 minutes awaiting air traffic control clearance. The Congress party claimed that the delay was intentional, aiming to disrupt the campaign schedule of the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

The Congress pointed to the PM's rally near Deoghar, suggesting that his event was prioritised over Mr Gandhi's movements. However, the chopper was cleared to take off 45 minutes later.

In his rallies earlier in the day, PM Modi criticised the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, reiterating his "shehzada" (prince) reference. The Prime Minister accused Mr Gandhi of plotting to abolish reservations for the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) to "weaken" these communities.

"The Congress has dangerous intentions. The Congress' 'shehzada' is conspiring to scrap reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs. The prince's father had called reservations slavery, bonded labour, but he was later defeated in elections. His father had even issued advertisements to remove reservations... We will thwart any such conspiracy," PM Modi stated.

He also alleged that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), an ally of the Congress, was aiding "infiltrators" in becoming permanent residents of Jharkhand, a claim supported by several BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah.

At the rally in Godda, Rahul Gandhi advocated for a nationwide caste census, asserting that it would transform India's landscape.

"The caste census is bound to happen... We will demolish the 50 per cent reservation ceiling, PM Modi can do whatever he can," he declared.

Polling for the second phase of the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly election will take place on November 20, with votes to be counted on November 23.

(With PTI inputs)