Nirmala Sitaraman under allegation of role in air ambulance for private use

Chennai: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has landed in controversy after it became public that she had arranged a military air ambulance belonging to the Defense Ministry for Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam to shift his ailing brother to Chennai from Madurai.

The military helicopter was provided in July 1 overlooking the regulations including that it required the permission of the union cabinet.

The Defense Ministry's helicopters are usually allowed for the VVIPs in emergency situations like natural disasters and in times of war. But it took days for these helicopters and boats to turn up for the search and rescue operations when several people were killed during the recent cyclones and disasters at sea.

The justification provided for the delayed help was that the procedures related to the Ministry were not completed.

Sitharaman was not happy with Panneerselvam for disclosing their secret deal. Panneerselvam told the reporters that he came to Delhi to thank Sitaraman for her 'big help'. He reportedly waited at Sitharaman's office for about half-an-hour on Tuesday but was denied audience.

Only Rajya Sabha MP V Maitreyan who accompanied Panneerselvam was allowed to meet the Defense Minister.

It was further confirmed in a tweet from the office of the Defense Minister that appointment was given only to V Maitreyan and that the Deputy CM of Tamil Nadu, O Panneerselvam has not met Sitharaman.

In a situation when ADMK voted against the no-confidence motion extending support to the Centre, the media had given much significance to Panneerselvam's Delhi visit.

There were also reports that Panneerselvam went to Delhi seeking the Centre's help on various issues related to illegal amassment of wealth and income tax raids.

DMK Working President MK Stalin called for the resignation of Nirmala Sitharaman and Panneerselvam over the alleged misuse of power.