Lalu, Rabri to board and alight like ordinary flyers at Patna airport

NEW DELHI: Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi will now board aircraft and alight from them at Patna airport like ordinary passengers. The Modi government on Friday withdrew the permission for the Yadav couples’ vehicle driving up right up to the tarmac — near the step ladder of the aircraft — while flying in and out of Patna.
“It has now been decided that the permission accorded to Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav and Smt Rabi Devi… may be withdrawn forthwith.BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) is accordingly requested to take immediate action to issue necessary instructions in this regard to all concerned,” a letter issued by the aviation ministry on Friday says.

While Lalu Yadav resigned as Bihar CM in July 1997 after being involved in a corruption case and then Rabri Devi’s third term as CM ended in March 2005, the Congress-ruled UPA had as a special case granted tarmac access to the Yadav couple at Patna airport in their vehicle in 2009. This was enabled by an aviation security (AVSEC) circular number 13/2009 issued on August 1, 2009.
Chief ministers’ vehicles are allowed tarmac access at airports in their state, especially in the state capital. This facility has been extended in the past to CMs in airports outside their states too for security or health reasons.