New Delhi, July 22: With Air India in a dire state of affairs, a demand was today made by a BJP member in the Lok Sabha for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the working of the national carrier, which has incurred Rs 8000 crore losses.
The House also heard a demand for a regulatory authority for monitoring the functioning of private airlines which, a Congress member alleged, were fleecing the travellers.
Raising the issue of JPC, Shatrughan Sinha (BJP) accused the Civil Aviation Ministry of “completely mismanaging” Air India that has resulted in the ‘Maharaja’ turning a ‘pauper’ with a Rs.8000 crore loss.
The filmstar-turned politician said matters have come to such a pass that the Frankfurt airport, a major aviation hub, has sought a bank guarantee from Air India for continuance of ground-handling services for the national carrier following a default in payment.
Noting that the “loot” in Air India was recently raised in the Rajya Sabha effectively, he said the airline has ordered 62 new aircraft at a time when lucrative destinations have been handed over to private airlines at its cost.
Pointing to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee, Sinha said that it was time they looked into the mess.
This could be transparently done only through a JPC, he said terming the Air India as “Sankat Airlines” (airline in crisis).
–Agencies