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Friday, May 6, 2011

Black Hawk Down


My friend's father wants to be with his family. It has been 16 months since he went home. Uncle's father is ill, a heart patient. I got to know that after a long time the commanding officer gave a 10 day leave. Finally, Major Yashwant Pratap Singh will be with his family for a short span. But will Air India fly him to his native? Apparently no. He's posted near Ladakh, defending the frontier for his fellow citizen. What he's getting? Perhaps, a long wait to meet his beloveds. But such facts are mere a piece of daily news for his countrymen!
It's the 10th day of Air India strike. About Rs. 120 crore of national loss has been done. The national carrier has been able to operate only 10 per cent domestic flights and has been losing Rs. 20 crore per day for the last three days. The airline, as a result of the strike, has curtailed 90 per cent of its domestic flights till May 6. Rs. 3.65 lakh per month, salary much higher than the pilots of other flights. But their appetite seems to be malfunctioning. They want JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) to probe in and unveil airline's mismanagement. Being entitled for such a luxury, they can certainly go for strikes like these. Can Major Yashwant? No. Because he's there for a cause like the pilots. Instead of rescuing the sinking ship, more punches are appearing on our once called nation's pride. I too support calls against corruption, but won’t support any idea that brings shame and loss to nation. 

The management is against all their demands. It's not ready to reappoint the 3 sacked pilots. All stern and rigid. Each fraternity has its own agenda. It's about, who winks first. With no breakthrough in sight, the High Court slammed the pilots and the airline's management for the continuing state of affairs. It admonished the pilots' association, saying, "How much loss are you going cause to the nation? Who will foot the bill? There's a court order telling you not to go on strike. You've taken the law into your own hands. I don't understand what you'll achieve." 
For JRD Tata, Air India was his baby. Nurtured with love, care and affection. It is not without reason when he was the chairman (took only Re 1 as salary) Air India was considered among the top 5 airlines of the world. In his times, Air India was the nation's pride. 
He always said, “I don't believe in ideas that gives personal benefits, but one that generates national benefits". 
I unlike other cabinet ministers don't agree with our civil aviation minister Vylar Ravi when he says the pilots are only 10+2 and crying for more when they earn at least 3.65 lakh a month. There is no question of qualification. Even an ill-literate person understands national pride. Being an Indian, how can I forgive those professionals who fly everyday across the city and world, knowing all the realities at ground zero and still behaving like rogues?     
After a long time our country is taking a stand together against corruption. Let's not spoil the party. Have a proper and transparent inquiry over the corrupt. Put them behind bars. Let the Black Hawk fly. Money will flow.

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