A-I staff see red over CPM’s Ganashakti copies on flights

Kolkata: In-flight circulation of CPM mouthpiece Ganashakti by Air-India and Alliance Air has triggered a row, with a section of employees seeing red over the national carrier’s decision to renew the order for the Bengali daily that propagates Marxist views.
The Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU), which is opposed to CPM-backed CITU, has taken up the matter with the Air-India authority, saying a party organ cannot be circulated for in-flight reading. The A-I, however, stuck to its guns saying it is listed as a regular newspaper and conforms to the rules set by the Air-India.
On an average, 30 Air-India and four Alliance Air flights have been getting the daily’s copies since November 16 after the deputy general manager wrote to the Ganashakti office asking for a daily supply of 242 copies.
Though Air-India officials claimed Ganashakti’s in-flight distribution dates back to the ‘90s, the ACEU claims it amounts to giving patronage to a political party.
The renewal order for supply was issued on November 13 in response to the requisition placed by senior manager (catering) at the A-I following an application from Ganashakti’s circulation department.
17/12/09 Bidyut Roy/Indian Express

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Categories: Air India Domestic Dec 2009, Air India Regional Dec 2009, NACIL Dec 2009