Requested Karnataka Guv, CM, Dy CM not to take trouble of coming early to receive me: PM Modi
Bengaluru visit to meet ISRO scientists, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday alleged that he purportedly barred Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar from receiving him at the HAL Airport.
Meanwhile, a war of words erupted between BJP MLA and former minister R Ashoka and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar over «ignoring» protocol to receive the Prime Minister at the airport.
Modi flew down to Bengaluru around 6 AM directly from the Greek capital of Athens to interact with ISRO scientists involved in the Chandrayaan-3 mission to the Moon.
Addressing a large number of people gathered outside the HAL airport, the PM said since he was coming from a far-off place (Athens) he did not know what time he would reach here, and he requested Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM Shivakumar not to take the trouble of coming to receive him as he would return soon after paying tributes to ISRO scientists.
«So, I had requested them that when I pay a formal visit, they definitely follow protocol,» Modi said. «They cooperated and I am thankful and grateful to them,» he said.
Ramesh alleged that the PM was irritated with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for felicitating the ISRO scientists before him, and termed Modi barring the Chief Minister and his deputy as «petulant petty politics».
Siddaramaiah on Thursday visited the Missions Operations Complex at ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) and felicitated ISRO chief S Somanath and his team on the successful touch down of Chandrayaan-3 mission's lander on the Lunar surface.
«The government will officially honour them by organising a special programme at the Banquet hall at Vidhana Soudha.
About 500 scientists from Karnataka were part of it. ISRO Chairman (S)
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