It has not taken long for Russi Mody, chairman of Air India and Indian Airlines, to fall out with the government - two months after claiming a free hand in turning the ailing carriers around.
Members of the aviation committee are upset by remarks he made, which they claim undermine parliament's authority, and are calling for him to resign or face the sack. The political grumblings emerged after Mody publicly demanded that members of parliament stop exercising their right to query the day-to-day management of both carriers. 'If this public sector undertaking is to be made effective, this parliamentary procedure needs looking into.'
Mody's position is made even more precarious by the lack of outward support from his political masters. Civil aviation minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is maintaining an angry silence as the dispute rages on. He holds little affinity for Mody, as he was not consulted by prime minister Narasimha Rao over the appointment. Nor does Azad want to undermine the prime minister's position by supporting the disgruntled committee members with key state elections on the horizon. Conversely, Rao has not jumped to Mody's aid for fear of alienating party members.
As the infighting and political wrangling continue, the question remains whether Mody can keep his job and press on with his commitment to turn round the fortunes of India's national carriers, in an increasingly competitive industry. The interference of politicians in the management of Air India and Indian Airlines is in proportion to the decline in fortunes of the two carriers.
As the infighting and political wrangling continue, the question remains whether Mody can keep his job and press on with his commitment to turn round the fortunes of India's national carriers, in an increasingly competitive industry. The interference of politicians in the management of Air India and Indian Airlines is in proportion to the decline in fortunes of the two carriers.
Source: Airline Business
