Jul 2 @ 10:20 PM
Prime Minister’s Office today sought a report from Civil Aviation Ministry on the delay in Air India flights on account of VIP travels in the recent past. The move came following the controversy over alleged delay of Air India flights due to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju.
Earlier, Mr. Fadnavis accompanied by nine people, left for the US on an official trip and his principal secretary had reported to the airport without travel documents and the flight was then held up for an hour.
The controversy was revisited today when reports surfaced that another Air India flight from Leh to New Delhi was delayed last week for about an hour and a family was taken off to accommodate Union minister Kiren Rijiju and Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh. Mr Rijiju apologized to the passengers who were not allowed to board the flight so he could fly to Delhi at the last minute.
Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Ministry has also sought report from Air India on alleged delay of flights carrying ministers. Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju today apologised for the inconvenience caused to the passengers of the Air India flight which was allegedly delayed to accommodate Union Minister Kirren Rijiju and Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh. Mr Raju said, he will ensure that such incidents do not occur again.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today strongly rejected media reports claiming that he delayed an Air India flight to US on Monday. In a series of tweets, the Chief Minister reiterated that the reports are misleading. Mr. Fadnavis said that any report claiming that he refused to travel without one of his delegation member is a blatant lie as his co-passengers are witness that he was sitting quietly; waiting for the flight to depart. Mr. Fadnavis added that he did not ask to be offloaded even once. The Maharashtra Chief Minister said that he will initiate proceedings of criminal defamation after his return to India.