"Done due to security reasons": BJP's Babulal Marandi after JMM complains of partiality during campaigning

Giridih (Jharkhand) [India], November 5 (ANI): Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi on Tuesday responded sharply after JMM sought President Murmu's intervention following Chief Minister Hemant Soren's helicopter was not being allowed to take off for over 90 minutes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was visiting the state.

He said that the protocol of avoiding flying helicopters within the prime minister's radar area has been followed for many years, noting that the same was also followed under the Congress regime as well. 

"This has happened for years, wherever PM holds a program.  This is done due to security reasons. This is nothing new... We too prepare our program like that. We don't hold our programs in the area where PM's program is scheduled for the day because we know that flying a helicopter will not be allowed there until he leaves from there. It happened during the Congress regime too," Babulal Marandi told ANI. 

Earlier in the day, accusing partiality in ECI's conduct, JMM wrote to President Murmu, seeking her intervention after CM Hemant Soren’s chopper takeoff was delayed in light of PM Modi’s security.

The ruling party in Jharkhand, through the letter, urged the President to intervene and ensure that all parties get a level playing field for star campaigners in the assembly polls.

JMM in their letter mentioned that Hemant Soren was prevented from flying for more than an hour over a distance of approximately 150 kilometres, citing the security of the Prime Minister.

According to the letter, the Election Commission had informed that, from a security perspective, a no-fly zone with a radius of 50 kilometres would be implemented around the Prime Minister, with a restriction on flying for a duration of 15 minutes.

The party stated that ECI had assured all national and state-level political parties both in writing and verbally that leaders, campaigners, and authorised candidates of competing political parties would be provided with equal opportunities to campaign in a fair and fear-free manner, ensuring impartial and guaranteed voting.

The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will go through polls in two phases on November 13 and 20, with counting of votes to be held on November 23. (ANI)