The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) — countrys aviation regulator — was on Wednesday planning to issue guidelines to airports and private airlines to give special privileges to members of Parliament (MP), TV channels reported. The government, however, denied any such move as a meeting between the DGCA and the aviation ministry was underway in the evening, the reports added. The DGCA is planning to ask the private airlines and airports to provide privilege check-in, lounge access and free refreshments to the MPs after a complaint by them in this regard. The special facilities are currently available to the lawmakers only in state-owned Air India. The protocol, which is to be followed by all concerned, including private airports and airlines, includes reserved lounge facilities, complimentary tea, coffee or water, free access in the terminal building and designation of one officer of airport as protocol officer to extend all facilities and courtesies to MPs, according to reply to a Lok Sabha question in August last year. While the aviation regulator wanted privileges for the MPs, there was an instant buzz over the need to end a VIP culture among politicians. Slamming such a decision, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said it reflected “a special kind of disconnect with the reality”, an apparent reference to demands for austerity from the political class. “To be demanding such special privileges for ‘VIPs’ in this political atmosphere takes a special kind of disconnect with the reality,” he posted on Twitter. Supreme Court judge Harish Salve took a jibe at MPs, saying, What they want is special treatment without paying for it. Alas! Habits and mindsets dont change in a hurry. “The irony is that there are a lot of MPs who live a life of simplicity. Travel by bus to Parliament. Use trains. Work for their constituents.” Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam also said he did not support any such move. I think it is better to travel like a common man. However, Union minister Praful Patel, who once headed the civil aviation ministry, saw nothing wrong in the directive. “If an MP is given a little bit of privilege, a little bit of respect, I dont think this should be blown out of proportion.” The reports come days after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers vowed to end VIP culture in politicians in Delhi. Kejriwal had recently turned down a security cover and decided that neither he nor any of his ministers would move to bungalows provided by the government. He asked that they be given smaller government flats. The Delhi government ministers are entitled to five-bedroom, Type-8 government houses. With PTI inputs
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 15:51:45 +0000
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