Jaipur:Jaipur Municipal Corporation Greater Mayor Dr. Somya Gurjar has stirred controversy after citing the recent airplane crash in Ahmedabad as the reason for cancelling her proposed visit to Israel. However, official sources reveal that the actual reason behind the cancellation was the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
The Mayor was scheduled to attend the MuniWorld Municipal
Conference 2025, which was to be held in Israel from June 16 to 20.
Invitations had been extended to mayors from five Indian cities, including
Jaipur, Indore, and Surat. Dr. Gurjar had also recently received approval from
the state government to participate in the event.
However, the situation in the region changed dramatically
following an airstrike launched by Israel on Iran on June 13. In light
of the growing tensions and the potential threat to safety, the Israeli
government officially called off the conference, informing all participants
through formal communication.
Despite this, Mayor Gurjar issued a statement attributing
her decision to cancel the visit to the Ahmedabad air crash incident,
which many are now calling politically motivated. According to sources, the Israeli
Embassy had already notified all invited city mayors about the cancellation via
email, raising questions about the timing and intent of the mayor's
announcement.
This has led to widespread discussion within the Jaipur
Municipal Corporation, with several voices suggesting that the mayor used
the Ahmedabad tragedy as a cover for a situation already out of her control.
Airspace Closures Amidst Rising Tensions
In light of the conflict, both Iran and Israel have
closed their respective airspaces. Jordan and Iraq have also temporarily
shut down their air routes. As a result, several airlines have suspended
flights that pass through the Middle East corridor, further complicating
international travel to the region.