Ranchi, Dec 9 - Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi understands the limitations of a pilot and did not violate any rules, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Wednesday in response to allegations that the youth leader had forced a helicopter pilot to land in zero visibility in Uttar Pradesh.

"Allegations of violation of landing rules of Rahul Gandhi's helicopter are baseless. Rahul Gandhi himself knows flying and understands the limitations," Mukherjee said at a press conference here.

The controversy arose Tuesday after Uttar Pradesh state Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi said that Gandhi had made the pilot land the chopper in zero visibility in Sitapur Monday evening. Gandhi denied it outright at a press conference in Lucknow.

In October, BJP president Rajnath Singh's aircraft took off from Dumka airport in the night with jeep lights illuminating the runway. There are no night landing facilities in Dumka.  (IANS)