The civil aviation ministry has rejected Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati’s request that her bulletproof car be allowed up to the tarmac at airports across India.
“The request has been rejected. It is not possible to make an exception. There is no precedence,” well-placed ministry sour-ces told this newspaper.
Sources said Mayawati wanted her car to be allowed direct access to the tarmac at all airports for “threat perception and security” reasons. But the ministry stood firm after Central security agencies opposed this move. The ministry too independently determined that there was no need to make any exception.
Sources said Mayawati is now allowed direct access in her car to the tarmac only at airports in UP where she is chief minister. Under the rules, governors and CMs are allowed access to the tarmac in their cars only in the states where they hold office. But Ms Mayawati wanted this privilege at all civil airports in India.
Sources said the aviation security agencies got numerous requests like this from politicians and “godmen”, but always opposed them. The final decision, however, lies with the civil aviation ministry.
The sources said this was decided entirely on 'professional grounds', and no politics should be read into it. But it is certain this could further embitter ties between the UPA and the BSP chief, particularly as civil aviation minister Ajit Singh is a top UP politician.