AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi had been taken to riot hit areas of the lower districts of Assam in an IAF chopper from the Guwahati Airport. On Tuesday however they refused to bring him back to the airport quoting unfavorable weather conditions. AK Antony, the defense minister had intervened in the matter by the pilot doggedly refused to fly him back.

The ATC at Guwahati also had given the go-ahead but IAF mentioned the bad weather. Rahul had earlier visited Kokrajhar, Dhubri in the same chopper but had to return to Guwahati on road. He would fly back to Delhi in a special aircraft on Tuesday morning.

Tarun Gogoi, the Chief Minister of Assam who flew with Rahul had taken the train route to return back to Guwahati.

IAF officials refused to name the pilot who rejected flying the chopper from the Salakati helipad saying that it would not be save. IAF again refused to land at Bongaigaon where a new helipad was built overnight but took the chopper to Kokrajhar at 2.45 pm.

(AW- Anil)