Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led central government over the ongoing Indigo flight disruptions, accusing it of enforcing new aviation rules without any contingency planning and pushing thousands of passengers into chaos.
Speaking to reporters outside Kolkata airport before leaving for a two-day visit to North Bengal, Banerjee said the flight crisis could have been avoided had the Centre allowed airlines 15–20 days to prepare alternative arrangements.
“Most flights have been stopped without any planning. It is very unfortunate,” she said, adding that airfares on the few operational flights had shot up drastically. “A ticket that normally costs Rs 3,000 is now Rs 50,000. How will common people travel?”
Miss Banerjee cited the recent case of a couple who failed to reach their wedding reception due to the disruption and had to join the event over a video call.
“I have never seen such paralysis. This is a disaster,” she said, demanding compensation for all affected passengers.
The Chief Minister, who delivered most of her comments in English “to reach out to victims across the country,” accused the Centre of negligence.
“How can you push people into such hardship? Thousands and lakhs of passengers are stuck inside airports, frustrated, and mentally harassed,” she said.
She urged the Centre to ensure that “at least half the flights remain operational” until airlines stabilise their staffing and scheduling.
Miss Banerjee also attacked the BJP government, alleging that it was more focused on elections than governance.
“They have no interest in the country’s problems. Their only concern is how to control votes, EVMs, the Election Commission and central agencies. They don’t think about people. That is their biggest problem,” she said.
The disruption stems from the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) — rules notified by aviation regulator DGCA in January and enforced from November 1.
Indigo, which operates a large number of late-night flights and offers relatively low fares, has been hit the hardest. The airline lacks the required number of pilots and crew to operate its schedule under the new norms, triggering massive cancellations and leaving passengers stranded nationwide.
Explaining the ground reality, Banerjee said, “Pilots need rest — that I fully understand. But before enforcing such rules, the Centre should have given 15–20 days to build an alternative plan. They knew the public would suffer the most.”
Without naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she added, “Some people spend more time abroad than dealing with the country’s problems. Those who have caused such losses must compensate the people.”
She also advised affected passengers to seek legal remedy.
Asked about Modi’s comments in Parliament during a discussion marking 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’, Banerjee criticised the BJP for “distorting history” and disrespecting icons like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
“Do they even know Bengal’s contribution?” she asked.
Labelling the Gita-chanting event in Kolkata as “a BJP event”, the chief minister said, “I respect all religions and all castes. But how can I go to a programme directly organised by the BJP? I belong to a party with its own ideals.”
“Those who insult Netaji and Gandhi — I cannot join them. Neither my parents nor my teachers nor the soil of Bengal taught me that,” she added.
Banerjee reiterated that her government is monitoring the aviation crisis closely as the situation “is going from bad to worse.”