New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has conveyed to the Narendra Modi government that national carrier Air India should be sold only to an Indian entity, ThePrint has learnt.
The Sangh’s opposition to foreign airlines comes at a time when there are reports that carriers like Etihad Airways have evinced interest in picking up a stake in Air India.
Swadeshi lobbies like the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and sections within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have opposed the sale of the government-owned airline arguing that it is against national interests.
BJP MP Subramanian Swamy has also been vocal in his opposition, and even threatened to go to court against the deal. He termed the deal anti-national and questioned why the government wants to sell the family silver.
Two RSS functionaries, who did not want to be named, told ThePrint that the Sangh’s views about the need for the Air India to remain in Indian hands even after divestment had been conveyed “right to the top” in the government.
On 27 January, the Modi government kick-started the process of selling its entire 100 per cent stake after deciding that it cannot pump in more money into the loss making airline. The airline reported a loss of Rs 8,550 crore in 2018-19, as against a loss of Rs 5,348 crore in 2017-18.
31/01/20 The Print
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The Sangh’s opposition to foreign airlines comes at a time when there are reports that carriers like Etihad Airways have evinced interest in picking up a stake in Air India.
Swadeshi lobbies like the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and sections within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have opposed the sale of the government-owned airline arguing that it is against national interests.
BJP MP Subramanian Swamy has also been vocal in his opposition, and even threatened to go to court against the deal. He termed the deal anti-national and questioned why the government wants to sell the family silver.
Two RSS functionaries, who did not want to be named, told ThePrint that the Sangh’s views about the need for the Air India to remain in Indian hands even after divestment had been conveyed “right to the top” in the government.
On 27 January, the Modi government kick-started the process of selling its entire 100 per cent stake after deciding that it cannot pump in more money into the loss making airline. The airline reported a loss of Rs 8,550 crore in 2018-19, as against a loss of Rs 5,348 crore in 2017-18.
31/01/20 The Print
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