Seaplane flies Modi, triggers security row

Ahmedabad, December 12

PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday flew in a seaplane from the Sabarmati riverfront to Dharoi Dam on the last day of campaigning for the Gujarat elections, courting a controversy over a possible breach of security protocol.

The Congress attacked Modi’s style of pulling the curtain down on his campaign, terming the seaplane journey a "distraction" from real issues and a "hawa hawai" (gas).

J&K ex-CM Omar Abdullah said Modi riding the single-engine seaplane was a security breach as the rule book says the PM can only fly in twin or multi-engine aircraft. But the critcism didn't wobble Modi's flight that came as his roadshow in Ahmedabad scheduled for Tuesday was cancelled.

Modi said the seaplane journey signified how the BJP was trying to harness waterways in Gujarat. — IANS