Farooq Abdullah takes taxi ride from airport

Kolkata: OnTuesday, minister for new and renewable energy Farooq Abdullah took a taxi from the airport to Salt Lake, leaving both the state government and Airports Authority of India officials red-faced. The Union minister has Z-class security.
Abdullah was scheduled to visit IIT-Kharagpur to inaugurate a bioenergy centre. After landing at the airport around 9.15 am, he was to be flown to the campus by helicopter. The chartered chopper took off a little after 11 am but returned barely 15 minutes later due to low visibility.
After waiting at the airport for nearly two hours, Abdullah decided to take matters into his hands. Realising he would not reach Kharagpur on time, he took a cab to the IIT’s extension centre in Salt Lake and inaugurated the bioenergy centre via video-conference. His official car and escort was at the time stationed at Salt Lake stadium, where his helicopter was to land on return, a senior police official said.
Home secretary Ardhendu Sen later claimed a car was waiting for Abdullah but he didn’t use it. “He was asked to take the car. He took a taxi instead. I don’t know why. Police and CISF officers were present at the airport. After all, we can’t force anybody,” he said.
06/01/10 Times of India

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Airports Jan 2010