Anil will be thrown out like curry leaves by BJP, says brother Ajith Antony
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): A day after Anil Antony joined the BJP snapping all association with the Congress, A K Antony's younger son Ajith on Friday said his brother's decision was an "impulsive" one and the saffron party would throw him out like "curry leaves" after using him temporarily.
Talking to reporters here, Ajith Antony said Anil had not given the slightest hint to the family about his decision, and it was a shock to all of them to see the news flash on channels about the development on Thursday.
He also said his father had become so devastated after seeing Anil accept the BJP membership at their headquarters in New Delhi.
"Pappa (A K Antony) was seen sitting with utmost pain in a corner of the house. I have never ever seen him so weak like this in my life. He did not shed tears, that's all," Ajith said.
He said his brother would have his own reasons to join the BJP and said he used to receive several abusive calls from unknown Congress party workers, which might have had hurt him.
"I thought he would stay away from the (Congress) party out of anger, but I never ever thought that he would go to the BJP. The decision was a totally unexpected one," Anil's younger brother said.
Terming Anil's decision to join the BJP as "very impulsive," Ajith said he believes that he will come back to the Congress party after rectifying his mistakes.
He may continue to remain in the BJP if he feels that it is good for his political future, Ajith said in response to a question.
"He probably would have gone, as he felt that it would be good for him. But, I will say again and again that they (BJP) will throw him out like curry leaves," he said.
Citing the examples of leaders like Alphons Kannanthanam and Tom Vadakkan, who had joined the BJP a few years ago, Ajith said BJP would use everyone temporarily and throw them out like used curry leaves.
Anil Antony had joined the BJP in the presence of Union ministers Piyush Goyal and V Muraleedharan in New Delhi on Thursday.
An emotionally charged A K Antony had later said in Kerala that it was a "wrong" decision.
"I am deeply pained by Anil's decision to join the BJP. It was a wrong decision," the former Defence Minister had said.
Anil, who headed the Digital Media Cell of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, quit the Congress two months ago, after criticising the party's stand on the controversial documentary film of the BBC on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and slammed the Congress leadership for working for a "single family" instead of for the country.
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Air India flight from Mumbai makes 'priority' landing in Bhopal after snag; return leg cancelled
Bhopal (PTI): A Bhopal-bound Air India flight from Mumbai carrying 175 persons on board made a “priority” landing here on Sunday due to a snag, an airport official said.
The aircraft landed safely at Bhopal airport at 3.20 pm, he said.
Consequently, the return leg of the flight from Bhopal to Mumbai, with 178 passengers booked, was cancelled, the official said.
AAI-run Bhopal airport said in a statement that Air India flight AI 633 “reported a technical issue to Air Traffic Control (ATC) during the flight from Mumbai to Bhopal”.
Immediately, all prescribed safety protocols were activated, and seamless coordination was ensured between ATC, airline ground operations, CISF and airpiort fire and rescue team of Bhopal airport, it said in a statement.
The flight, carrying 175 persons, including 166 passengers and nine crew members, landed safely at Bhopal airport at 3.20 pm, the airport operator said.
All necessary assistance and support were extended by the airport and airline teams as per the requirements of the flight crew, it said.
“Due to the technical issue, the aircraft was declared unserviceable, and as a precautionary measure, the return flight AI-634 (Bhopal to Mumbai) was cancelled by the airline to facilitate detailed inspection and rectification,” the statement said.
