10 flights cancelled at Kolkata airport amid West Asia conflict
Kolkata (PTI): At least 10 international flights were cancelled at the airport here on Tuesday due to the escalating conflict in West Asia, officials said.
Airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Air Arabia cancelled their flights connecting Kolkata with West Asia destinations, they said.
“Today at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, a total of five departures and five arrivals have been cancelled,” an airport official said.
ALSO READ: Middle East conflict: 80 international flights cancelled at Delhi airport on Tuesday
According to the details shared by the airport authorities, Emirates cancelled two arrival flights and two departure ones on the Dubai route, while Qatar Airways suspended one arrival flight and a departure one to Doha.
Etihad Airways called off one arrival flight and a departure one to Abu Dhabi, and Air Arabia cancelled two flights - one arrival and one departure- on the Abu Dhabi sector.
These cancellations came after at least 20 international flights were suspended at the Kolkata airport on Monday.
The disruptions were reported as airlines continued to adjust schedules due to the military conflict between Iran and the US-Israel, with some airports and air routes affected by the ongoing war, another official said.
Multiple inbound and outbound flights between Kolkata and destinations such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi were cancelled at short notice, leaving several passengers stranded at the airport, he said.
Passengers have been advised to check with their respective airlines for updated flight schedules before travelling to the airport, he said.
At the national level, hundreds of international services have been cancelled, particularly those connecting through major West Asia transit hubs.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
