Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee targeted the Centre over the IndiGo flight disruptions impacting thousands of passengers over the past week on Monday, claiming that the policy of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) was implemented without any planning. Before attending a meeting in Cooch Behar on Monday, she attacked the Centre from Kolkata airport.
Banerjee said, “I also think that the pilot or the crew needs rest. But implementing any new policy requires planning. Government planning should have been emphasised before implementing this policy. Time is very precious to people. Many passengers have been harassed for the past few days. My request to the government is, plan early. Provide alternatives where necessary and ensure that benefits reach people.”
Under the new FDTL rules of the country’s flight regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the weekly rest period for pilots has been increased to 48 hours from 36 and night landings have been limited to two from six earlier. The norms have also extended the definition of night hours by an hour. This was implemented in two phases, the second coming into force in November.
Speaking of the Central government, Banerjee said, “They only think about elections. They don’t think about people’s convenience.” Banerjee also demanded that the Centre should compensate passengers for their “suffering”. She also said that passengers could approach court.
At the Kolkata airport, Banerjee met Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. Banerjee and Tobgay both called the meeting a courtesy call.
Banerjee also answered a question on why she did not attend the Gita recitation programme held at Brigade Parade Ground on Sunday. She said, “How can I go to BJP’s program?”
She said, “If it was an impartial programme, I would have gone. How do I go to a BJP event? I have a party, I have an ideology. I respect all religions. I respect all castes, all creeds. But where the BJP is directly involved, how do I go? Those who say they hate Netaji, who do not accept Gandhiji — I can’t go there. The soil of Bengal did not teach me this.”