NEW DELHI, India: Astonishing details are now available about the lavish comfort enjoyed by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his recent Air India flight to Vancouver, (o attend the Commonwealth, Heads of Governments Conference. No other head of government with the exception of the Sultan of Bruni who is among the richest men is believed to have arrived at the Canadian airport in an especially fitted Boeing 747. Not only was a 747 made available to the Prime Minister, there was another 747 used as a standby and not was the aircraft specially fitted for the occasion, Air India procured the best from all round the world for Rajiv Gandhi from the pork he used in the caviar that he ate. Special beds were fitted in the aircraft in London. Turkish towels for the Prime Minister were imported from Singapore; the bed sheets were brought from Rome; special Swiss pillows; and perfumes and other items of toilet were again brought from Singapore; the snacks and sweets were Japanese.
The detailed planning by Air India to provide the Prime Minister with utmost comfort is contained in 60 page memorandum and this Memo relates only to the inflight arrangements issued by the Air India’s Manager of Planning and Procedures. He sent copies for action to Bombay, Delhi, New York, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Vancouver, Boston and Washington. The arrangements aboard Air India will cost the tax payers a pretty packet at a time when country’s reeling under the worst drought of the century and the government has imposed a cut on all unnecessary expenditure. Prime Minister’s food comprised the choicest Jobster, caviar, and chocolates. The menu card made of fine silk imported paper; silver tasseled has become a collector’s item. Apart from the menu made available from across the seven seas, Air India prepared well stocked bar of 87 bottles of the best foreign liquor including Chavis Regal, Royal Salute and Black Label whisky, Vodka, MeArthy’s Rum, and French brandy and some 80 cartons of foreign cigarettes, Rothmans, Bensen and Hedges and Dunhill. Apparently there was no desi Campa Cola or Limca, it was a choice of Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola, Bitter Lemon, 7Up and Mineral water.
However the journalists accompanying the Prime Minister ‘were herded into the economy class.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 20, 1987
