Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 10 (IANS) The Congress Thursday urged Air India pilots to withdraw their agitation immediately, saying they were stretching the patience of even those MPs who always favoured taking the airline to its strong position.

“Indian Pilots Guild should realise the folly of their action and immediately withdraw the strike,” Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said.

He said continuation of strike by a section of Air India pilots was very distressing and added that the government and parliament have walked the extra mile to help Air India alleviate its distressful financial condition.

Anwering queries, Tewari said there were some “legacy issues” with Air India which the government was trying to address and added that it was willing to talk on issues concerning seniority.

He said an agitation not only affects earnings, and causes inconvenience to passengers but also hits the brand equity of Air India.

“Indian Pilots Guild should realise the folly of their action and immediately withdraw the strike,” Tewari said.

Asked if government should not be in the business of running an airline, he said Air India operates flights to interior and difficult areas and had evacuated Indians caught in crisis.

However, he added that Air India pilots should not be going on strike every now and then.

Air India Thursday moved the Supreme Court to force the striking pilots to work as their agitation dragged on for the third day affecting the carrier’s operation.