The Congress, in an apparent bid to snap back at BJP president Amit Shah’s controversial rally at the Dabolim International Airport in Goa, wants a wedding organised at the same venue, with all the due permissions in place of course.
General secretary of the Congress in Goa Janardhan Bhandari has written to the top Airport Authority of India official in the State, Airport Director BC Negi, seeking permission to hold his wedding on the airport premises.
“It would be nice if you could permit me to use your airport for my wedding reception in September 2017. I will fix the date as per the availability of the airport as per your convenience,” Bhandari said in his letter, which appears to be dripping in sarcasm.
“I am very pleased to inform you that I have been engaged recently and planning to get married soon. Since my guests will be coming from various States and landing at Dabolim Airport and as such I cannot afford to make arrangements for the stay and travel of so many guests,” Bhandari also said.
On last Saturday, Shah when landed in Goa on a two-day visit to the State, the BJP had organised a party reception for the national leader at the premises of the military-operated airport in Goa, which is located within the Indian Naval base ‘Hamla’.
The meeting, however resulted in controversy, with a local lawyer and activist filing a complaint against local Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and Shah with the Union Ministry for Information and Broadcasting.
The Congress has also objected to the political meeting at the airport which functions under the aegis of the Defence Ministry.
Bhandari, however, appears to have taken the protest to a new pitch altogether. In his letter, he has also said that he will ensure that there is no photography at the airport which is a sensitive Defence Ministry installation and has even invited the airport director and his staff for blessings for the matrimony-bound couple.
“I shall be also glad if you along with your staff could bless me that day to make my wedding most memorable. Thanking you in anticipation of your kind support to make my wedding a grand success,” the application for wedding permission concludes.