The matter regarding use of Chopper by Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, Shri Jai Ram Thakur is being blown out of proportion without knowing the true facts.
A spokesman of the State Government said here today that the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, Shri Jai Ram Thakur was to preside over the Himachal Day function at Keylong. Since the Rohtang Pass was closed due to snow fall the Chopper was arranged for the Minister and it had nothing to do with the regular flights being operated for tribal areas. The Minister is invited with family for such function and it had been practice in the past also.The spokesman said that the Minister as courtesy dropped his wife and took the local MLA Sh. Ram Lal Markenday alongwith to enable him also to attend Himachal Day function. Since there were two vacant seats in the Chopper the Minister took his two teen aged daughters for this function and there is nothing wrong in it.
The spokesman said that Indian Air Force 26 seater Chopper had already been deployed in Lahaul-Spiti from 11th April, 2011 to 14th April, 2011 which carried out six sorties to rescue people in emergency.