AAP leaders using Bhagwant Mann copter for publicity: Congress

The Congress on Saturday alleged that ruling AAP leaders were using Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's official helicopter for publicity in flood-hit Gurdaspur.

The allegation comes on a day more ruling party leaders took turns riding the CM's chopper to airdrop flood aid in the district.

On Friday, an MLA and a halqa in-charge had used the chopper to distribute essentials, stoking a controversy that they were using it to "further their political ambitions" while hampering relief efforts.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had handed over the chopper on August 27 to the Gurdaspur administration for relief work. According to officials, evacuation and dropping of food packets is a highly technical operation, which involves Army helicopters.

Army choppers drop ration packets while hovering above even as crew members manually push the packages out of an open door. The crew members time the release of the ration packets so that they land at the precise location.

On Saturday, Rajiv Sharma, chairman of the Gurdaspur Improvement Trust, and Joban Randhawa, chairman of the District Planning Board, took out separate sorties. They were accompanied by a photographer.

Partap Singh Bajwa, Leader of the Opposition in the state, said, "AAP has reduced Punjab's tragedy into a public relations circus. The CM's 'relief copter' has been turned into a photo opportunity for AAP leaders. Flood-hit families still wait on rooftops without food, water or medicines.

Meanwhile, villagers are providing aid. This morning, there were long lines of tractor-trailers on the Kalanaur road and the Ghahlri road, carrying langar for flood-hit areas.