TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee (File photo)
NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he had to borrow a chopper from Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren after his helicopter was not given a clearance to attend a poll rally.Calling the non-clearance a “trick” by the rival BJP, Banerjee said, “BJP thinks these tricks will stop me, but I am 10 times more stubborn than BJP.” “I want to apologise for being late. The election has not yet commenced. But through SIR, BJP has started their tricks. My chopper was not given clearance. BJP thinks these tricks will stop me, but I am 10 times more stubborn than BJP. Since my chopper didn’t receive clearance, I spoke to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and arranged for his chopper to come for this meeting,” CM Mamata Banerjee’s nephew told the rally. The TMC leader said he would have addressed the gathering even if only 10 people had attended it due to a delay in his arrival to the venue.”I had decided, come what may, I would be reaching the venue as a Trinamool soldier to address even 10 people if they were present at the venue. What I saw, despite being late, mothers and sisters have turned out in large numbers, not only at this ground, but outside too. I am thankful to them,” he said.Earlier, the ruling TMC claimed that the DGCA had not given any approval for Banerjee’s helicopter. The party also claimed that the helicopter that Abhishek Banerjee was using to travel to Rampurhat in Birbhum to address a public meeting was arranged after speaking with Hemant Soren and with the help of the Jharkhand government. The party claimed to have “rented” the helicopter from Hemant Soren.
