BENGALURU: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday had to wait 15 minutes at Kalaburagi airport for a cup of tea because of lack of security clearance for food andbeverages that were organised for him.
Gadkari went to Deval-Ganagapur for a darshan of Lord Dattatreya by helicopter from Akkalkot in Maharashtra. After the darshan, he came to Kalaburagi airport for departure to Delhi on a special flight.
While waiting there, Gadkari asked for tea twice in 15 minutes. BJP MLC BG Patil, who received Gadkari, had directed the airport authority to get the tea. Airport director Jnaneshwarao later explained when the tea was arranged for from the airport canteen, a Karnataka State Industrial Security Force officer did not clear the beverage.
Later, the airport staff brought tea from outside and served it to the minister.
Kalaburagi MP Umesh Jadhav, who came to the spot later, told the airport authority not to repeat the mistake.
