BJP wants clarity in Tata's airline business allegation

Patna: The BJP on Tuesday sought clarification on Tata group Chairman Ratan Tata's comments yesterday that he did not enter airline business as he was not comfortable paying bribe. BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy said media reports had stated that Tata Group had denied that any minister had ever asked Tata for a bribe in his bid to enter airline business.
"Even after the denial, we will appreciate further clarity in the Group chairman's stand on the issue", he told reporters here.
Tata had said in Dehradun that he did not enter the airline business as he was not comfortable with the idea of bribing Rs 15 crore to a minister years ago, as had then been suggested by an industrialist.
After taking over the reins of the group, Tata had tried at least on three occasions to pursue the aviation business and accordingly moved the government of the day in 1995, 1997 and 2001.
Recalling that Tata had in 1996 applied for starting a domestic airline with Singapore Airlines, Rudy said it was much before the NDA came to power.
The last time (2001) it was during BJP government's period when Tatas and Singapore Airlines withdrew as sole bidders for their joint bid for Air India, citing political opposition to the sale.
Rudy, who was the union aviation minister in 2003 during the NDA rule at the Centre, said that the process of privatising airline business in the country began during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
16/11/10 Press Trust Of India/Hindsustan Times

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Nov 2010