The majority view of the Parliamentary Panel headed by TMC leader Derek O’Brien is to sell the national carrier Air India, and not for the government to keep running the loss making airline. This is diametrically opposite to the recommendations of a draft report leaked to the press last week.
ET Now exclusively learnt from sources that there is a parallel draft report supporting the sale of Air India, which has the backing of a majority of the 31 MPs that make up the Standing Committee on Travel, Tourism & Culture chaired by Derek O’Brien.
This draft report that favours the sale of Air India may be taken up at the next Parliamentary Panel meet on Monday, January 15. That meeting may prove to be a stormy affair, with MPs of the NDA Alliance all set to escalate the issue of the “wrong draft report” being leaked to the press. BJP MPs that ET Now spoke to allege it is Derek O’Brien’s personal view to not sell Air India, whereas the majority view within the committee is for the government to exit the debt laden airline.
The stamp of approval from the Parliamentary Panel–though not a necessary pre condition–will definitely bolster the Modi government’s commitment to exit the airline business. Not having the House Panel on board could have proved to be an irritant. Besides strengthening the case of the naysayers, it could for example, also be cited in Courts to try and delay the sale of the Maharaja.
There are 31 MPs in all in this committee, with 15 from the BJP, and one each from its allies TDP & AIADMK. Praful Patel of the NCP is also believed to be batting for the sale of Air India. Patel as the aviation minister of the UPA government was the architect of the Air India-Indian Airlines merger.
Air India has a massive debt of Rs 55,000 cr and the Modi government is trying its best to expedite the sale of the national carrier. The Cabinet just yesterday permitted 49% FDI in Air India, which is being seen as a bold move to attract foreign carriers and maximise the valuation of Air India.
Source: Economic Times