As Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow in Varanasi on Thursday, in the Capital, his party’s Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy sought to draw his attention to the alleged role of two central ministers in the downfall of the private airline Jet Airways. In a tweet, Swamy warned that the BJP’s reputation was at stake after the Jet Airways collapse, and called for immediate intervention of Narendra Modi in the matter.
“I urge NaMo to tell Jaitley (Finance Minister Arun Jaitley) and Jayant Sinha (Minister of State for Civil Aviation) to lay off trying to parcel off Jet Airways to Spicejet. It smells off favouritism and misuse of official position that will damage BJP’s reputation,” Swamy tweeted.
I urge Namo to tell Jaitely and Jayant Sinha to lay off trying to parcel off Jet Airways to Spice Jet. It smells of favouritism and misuse of official position that will damage BJP’s reputation
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) April 25, 2019
On Wednesday, Swamy had drawn Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu’s attention to the matter. He had also suggested that instead Jet Airways be merged with national carrier Air India. He had argued that such a move would not only ensure seamless air services but also help Air India regain its former capacity.
“There is a serious effort going on by private airlines such as Spicejet and Vistara to benefit from this dismemberment of Jet Airways…This is being supported by some of your colleagues and officers whom I can name in a private meeting with you,” Swamy wrote in his letter to Suresh Prabhu.
The BJP Rajya Sabha MP urged Prabhu to recommend merger of Jet Airways with Air India to the Union Cabinet. He said such a move was imperative to put a halt to the alleged plunder of national assets, investment and Air India infrastructure.