New Delhi: With private airlines which have threatened to go on a one-day strike to protest against high fuel prices and airport charges, BJP on Friday said the dismal situation was a result of the government`s failure to provide incentives for the aviation industry.
"Undoubtedly, Air India is in a neck-deep financial
crisis but the situation of private airlines is no better. The
failure of the government to provide incentives for the
aviation industry is monumental," BJP spokesperson Rajiv
Pratap Rudy said.
The former Minister of State for Civil Aviation felt
though no immediate solutions were in sight, the government
should have provided incentives to the ailing private airlines
to bail them out of their financial troubles.
He also accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of being
"ignorant and insensitive" towards the aviation industry.
"The Prime Minister has preferred to remain ignorant and
insensitive to the core issues bothering the civil aviation
industry," he said.
The private carriers, under the banner of the Federation
of Indian Airlines, have decided to suspend their domestic
services on August 18 to protest "high prices of jet fuel and
airport charges".
International operations, however, would be normal.
The private airlines are suffering losses apparently due
to falling air traffic, high Air Turbine Fuel prices and
recent hike in airport charges.
Bureau Report
