City
Epaper

Swamy warns against Air India sale, wants House panel to vet his note

By IANS | Updated: January 23, 2020 16:35 IST

The government's plan to sell national carrier Air India may face political and legal headwinds with senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy raising the red flag against the decision.

Open in App

Days before the launch of bidding process by inviting Expressions of Interest (EoI) from potential suitors, Swamy has warned against such move, saying the issue was currently being discussed by a Parliamentary panel.

"Right now, it (Air India disinvestment) is before the consultative committee and I am a member of that. I have been asked to give a note which will be discussed in the next meeting. They can't go ahead without that," Swamy told .

"If they do, I will go to court. They know that too," he cautioned.

A vocal opponent of Air India privatisation, Swamy had earlier suggested to list 49 per cent of Air India shares on stock exchanges while government holds 51 per cent in the carrier as an alternative to selling its entire stake to private companies.

It has been reliably learnt that the Rajya Sabha member had expressed reservations over privatisation of Air India the meeting of a Parliamentary consultative committee earlier this month.

After its failed first attempt, the Modi government has shown great zeal this time to sell Air India. It is set to offer a sweetened deal to potential buyers this time around by removing a large chunk of the debt and liabilities from the airline books.

Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had earlier said that Air India will be shut down, in case the disinvestment exercise is not successful.

Sources told that the preliminary information memorandum (PIM) inviting EoI has been tentatively scheduled to be unveiled on January 27.

Air India is proposed to be sold along with its subsidiary Air India Express and ground-handling joint venture company Air India Singapore Airport Terminal Services Ltd (AISATS) in which it has 50 per cent stake.

Air India on January 10 came out with tender for engaging aircraft asset management companies for carrying out technical audit of its entire fleet.

A Ministerial panel on Air India chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah on January 7 approved the draft EoI and a share purchase agreement (SPA) for the airline's disinvestment.

(Nirbhay Kumar can be contacted at nirbhay.k@.in)

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: indiaAir IndiaHardeep Singh PuriAmit Shah
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalIranian President Calls for Constructive Role of Brics to Halt West Asia Conflict During Talks With PM Modi

LifestyleEid 2026 Date: When Will Saudi Arabia, UAE and India Celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr?

InternationalAir India A350 From New York to Delhi Diverted to Ireland After Suspected Technical Issue

InternationalDubai International Airport Suspends Flight Operations; Air India and Air India Express Cancel Flights

MaharashtraMaharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Unfurls 200-Foot National Flag at Nagpur’s Kasturchand Park

कारोबार Realted Stories

BusinessAI demand to push global chip industry revenue past $1.3 trillion in 2026

BusinessInvited by Actor Sudesh Berry, Varun Gupta of GrahRahasya Decoded Advances Mahabharat Research Through Text-Based Analysis

BusinessGIFT City fund ecosystem surges 60-fold to $32 billion, FMEs rise 25-fold

BusinessS.L. Raheja Hospital, Mahim-A Fortis Associate Hosts Landmark 'India EUS Summit 2026', Witnesses Strong Global Participation

BusinessAries Agro Limited Announces Sourav Ganguly as Brand Champion