Farooq Abdullah takes taxi ride through Kolkata

New and Renewa-ble Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah, one of India's most high-security politicians, yesterday took a taxi ride here sans any security cover.

New and Renewa-ble Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah, one of India's most high-security politicians, yesterday took a taxi ride here sans any security cover.

"Mazaa aa gya," he said later. Abdullah was scheduled to go to IIT-Kharagpur, but had to cancel his plan after his helicopter could not take off due to bad weather.

Since he was slated to take a helicopter directly to Kharagpur and leave without stepping into the city, a state government official said no arrangement for security was made outside the airport for him.

The sudden change in his plan took the administration unawares.

Feeling Adventurous: Farooq Abdullah, one of India's most high-security politicians, took the taxi ride sans any security cover

Abdullah, who was was with his private secretary and a deputy director of the IIT, decided to drive down to the IIT campus in the city to address the event via video conference.

His secretary sent a message to the state government and the IIT authorities asking for vehicle and security escort. But as time ticked by, he became impatient and hopped into a taxi along with the two.

"I was desperate to be among you. But I couldn't. I am sorry for that. The helicopter pilot tried to take off a number of times, but couldn't because of the weather.
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Probably the pilot had the Andhra Pradesh incident (death of the state's then CM Rajsekhar Reddy in a chopper crash) in mind," Abdullah said during the video conference.

Asked about what he felt at the lack of security cover, Abdullah pointed to the sky, saying, "My security (comes from there)."

Abdullah also visited the ailing Jyoti Basu, who is at a private hospital, in a cab. State Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen has sought a report from the police about the incident.

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Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee recently hopped into an auto in Kolkata to get to the airport after a Muharram procession stalled her convoy.