No one was de-boarded because of me : Rijju
The denial of the Union Minister of State for Home came amid mounting criticism of "VIP first" culture that the country is used to experience- the latest example being making delay of an Air India flight for about an hour at Leh airport in Jammu and Kashmir to accommodate Rijju and the state's deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh.
It was reported that an Indian Foreign Service officer and his family,including a child were off-loaded to make room for them.
On Thursday, Rijiju had told NDTV that he was ready to apologise to the passengers who were off-loaded because of him.
Today, however, he said: "That was fake news. Nobody was de-boarded because of me. So ultimately, it becomes fake news."
Rijiju has maintained that he never delayed the plane and that the flight was advanced without notice.
But media reports quoted Indian Air Force report as saying that the pilot was instructed to delay the flight "to accommodate a VIP". The plane, which had been shut for take-off, reopened its door to let in the ministers.
Nirmal Singh has officially complained against the pilot, saying he was rude.
The prime minister's office has sought a report on flights being delayed by the VIPs.
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