NEW DELHI(PTI):Union Minister for civil aviation and tourism, Madhavrao Scindia Jan.9 tendered his resignation following the crash landing of the Indian airlines flight the same moming.
In a statement issued within hours of the crash, Scindia expressed anguish at the accident and said “due to the unfortunate attitude of pilots of the Indian airlines, the management was compelled to lease aircraft.” “Since the accident has occurred in the case of one such aircraft, as head of the civil aviation ministry, I would not be at peace with myself if I did not tender my resignation,” he said.
Scindia, after visiting the accidentsite and meeting some of the passengers who had a miraculous escape said, he met the pnme minister and tendered his resignauion.
He said “I am grateful to the minister of state, the officers and the staff of the civil aviation and tourism ministry, who gave me such unstinted support during my tenure.”
Indian airlines wet leased the Russian made aircraft after its operations were nearly suspended following a strike by the Indian commercial pilots association recently.
Meanwhile, the President, D.S.D.Sharma, Saturday night accepted the resignation of the Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister, Madhavno Scindia.
A Rashtrapatii Bhawan communique Said his resignation had been accepted on the advise of the Prime Minister, P. V.Narasimha Rao.
The communique said the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, has been given “temporary” additional charge of the Civil Aviation and Tounsm Ministry.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 15, 1993
