Wednesday, 16 May 2012

Ajit Singh extends olive branch to Air India pilots after harsh words


Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has extended an olive branch to the striking Air India (AI) pilots asking them to return to work and promised to hear their grievances "unconditionally" without any "vindictive action".
As the pilots strike entered the eighth day during which the airline lost Rs.150 crore, the minister assured the pilots that "all the grievances will be heard unconditionally". "You come to talks unconditionally... please go back to work," he said.
The appeal to the pilots was made in the minister's reply to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the civil aviation sector and AI after he was taken to task by opposition MPs for making a statement outside Parliament that the country did not need a national air carrier.
"Air India management will in no way be vindictive towards any employee.... a lot of young people have just joined (as pilots). But the first priority should be that passengers are not inconvenienced," he said. This reflected a change of heart as earlier in the day the minister had said the directorate general of civil aviation will take action against those who have falsely reported sick and not joined work.
Singh came under intense fire in the Lok Sabha from agitated members cutting across party lines for the AI mess and for making policy statements outside Parliament when the House is in session. The House was briefly adjourned following bedlam over the issue.
The minister had told a TV channel that the country did not need a national air carrier hinting at privatisation of AI. He had also said he is against the government entering the service sector.
CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta took Singh to task saying, "It is a policy decision. He is not competent to take a decision. The Cabinet has to take a decision," Dasgupta said.
The Lok Sabha witnessed an uproar during zero hour over the AI strike and the alleged comments of Singh.

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