BJP seeks parliamentary probe into AI affairs

BJP today demanded a Parliamentary probe into allegations of corruption and mismanagement in Air India and blamed government policies for grave financial situation in the national carrier.

Raising the issue during in the Rajya Sabha, party leader Prakash Javadekar said the condition of Air India is worsening and it was on the brink of a collapse.

“The policy, rules and leadership of the Civil Aviation Ministry is hell bent on finishing Air India....Civil Aviation Minister is the Sultan (of the sector),” Javadekar said, demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee to go into the issue to save the national carrier.

Citing a Parliamentary Committee report, he said the merger of Air India with Indian Airlines has proved fatal. The committee also said the merger and abandoning profitable routes had only helped private airlines like Jet Airways. “Indian Airlines was created by an Act of Parliament. It’s merger with Air India should also have been approved by Parliament,” Javadekar said, adding that the infusion of Rs 800 crore is of no use. In separate mentions, Brinda Karat (CPI-M) and Shivanand Tewari (JD-U) demanded waiver of loans for handloom weavers, who are protesting in the national capital against their worsening conditions.