SA’s version of Gupta plane landing denied

Published May 22, 2013

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Durban - The Indian High Commission in Pretoria spoke out publicly on Tuesday, insisting that it had followed correct procedures in applying for permission for the Gupta family’s wedding guests to land at Waterkloof Air Force Base last month.

And it said that state-level ministers and officials aboard the aircraft of wedding guests had also come to South Africa for an official meeting with the Free State government.

The commission was clearly responding to Sunday’s statement by South African cabinet ministers who repeated insinuations that the high commissioner of India in South Africa, Virendra Gupta (no relation to the family), bypassed the proper channels and misrepresented the purpose of the flight.

Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said that Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula had turned down the Guptas’ request to land at Waterkloof Air Force Base on April 3.

Only then had the Gupta family “resorted to the use of the diplomatic channel with the support of an individual in the Indian High Commission who redesignated the wedding entourage as an official delegation to enable them to use the Waterkloof Air Force Base under the cover of diplomatic privilege”.

“It is an undisputed fact that there was no official Note Verbale from the Indian High Commission to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, and therefore due process was not followed,” he said.

On Tuesday, the High Commission said it wished to clarify its position, explaining that it had applied much earlier than April 3 and through the usual channels.

“The initial request was made by the high commission of India on February 28 since the charter flight was expected to carry several ministers from state governments as well as central government and senior political figures from India,” the commission said.

“The request was made with a view to ensuring appropriate security arrangements and courtesies for the visiting dignitaries.”

The commission claims that a formal request by the defence adviser in the high commission was sent to the chief of defence for foreign relations in the SANDF

.

“The mission’s request was made a full two months in advance from the date of the scheduled landing of the plane, and all requested information was provided to the concerned authorities,” the high commission said.

It said that another letter was sent by the defence adviser to the Air Command Unit of the Air Force Command Post with a copy to the chief of defence for foreign relations in the SANDF on April 4.

“Authorisation for landing was provided to the mission by the South African Air Force on April 9, three weeks prior to the scheduled landing date.

“Several senior ministers and dignitaries from the government of Uttar Pradesh, which is the largest state in India with a total population of 200 million, were actually on the flight that landed on the morning of April 30.

Of these dignitaries, the visit of Shivpal Singh Yadav, Minister of Public Works and Irrigation, and the delegation accompanying the minister was an official visit, which took place at the invitation of the Free State government, and a memorandum of intent was signed between the Free State government and the Uttar Pradesh government,” the high commission said.

Details should be given about a memorandum signed by the Free State government and the Uttar Pradesh government in India, the DA says.

Independent Foreign Service

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