Congress leader Motilal Vora passes away at 93
New Delhi, Dec 21: Senior Congress leader Motilal Vora died on Monday at a hospital here following post-COVID-19 complications, his family said.
He was 93.
Vora was admitted to the Escorts Hospital in Okhla here a few days ago with a urinary infection. He also had a lung infection and was put on ventilator support, his family said.
He completed 93 years only on Sunday. He will be cremated in Chhattisgarh where his body will be taken either later in the day or on Tuesday.
Vora, a former Chief minister of undivided Madhya Pradesh and also a former Governor of Uttar Pradesh, had served as a Rajya Sabha member four times and as a Lok Sabha member once.
Several political leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi paid their tributes to the departed leader.
PM Modi said he was saddened by the demise of the Congress veteran.
"Shri Motilal Vora Ji was among the senior-most Congress leaders, who had vast administrative and organisational experience in a political career that spanned decades. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and well-wishers. Om Shanti," the PM said in a tweet.
In his condolence message, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was sad on hearing about Vora's demise. The minister said he had worked closely with Vora when he was UP Governor.
"He was respected across parties as a gentle and experienced politician. I express my condolences to his family in this hour of grief," Singh said in a tweet in Hindi.
Rahul Gandhi condoled Vora's demise, saying he was a wonderful human being and a true Congressman.
Vora ji was a true congressman and a wonderful human being. We will miss him very much. My love and condolences to his family and friends, he tweeted.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said every Congress leader and worker is feeling personally pained over Vora's death.
Vora ji was a symbol of loyalty, dedication and patience towards the ideology of Congress, she said.
She also said Vora was present at every party meeting even at an advanced age of 92 and expressed his views openly on every issue. "Today, while bidding him goodbye I feel sad that an elder member of the family has left us. We will all miss him very much."
Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "A giant is no more. Sh Moti Lal Vora was the epitome of commitment, dedication and loyalty. He inspired an entire generation by his untiring attitude and capacity to brave every adversity. My heartfelt homage.
The Congress party also tweeted through its official handle, "We offer our heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of stalwart Congress leader, former Union Cabinet Minister and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Motilal Vora. Congress has lost a guiding light. May his soul rest in peace."
Vora ji was a true congressman and a wonderful human being. We will miss him very much.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 21, 2020
My love & condolences to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/MvBBGGJV27
श्री मोतीलाल वोरा जी के निधन से कांग्रेस पार्टी के हर एक नेता, हर एक कार्यकर्ता को व्यक्तिगत तौर पर दुःख महसूस हो रहा है। वोरा जी कांग्रेस की विचारधारा के प्रति निष्ठा, समर्पण और धैर्य के प्रतीक थे।... @MotilalVora pic.twitter.com/Qvp0R3yRb8
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) December 21, 2020
A giant is no more !
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) December 21, 2020
Sh. Moti Lal Vora was the epitome of commitment, dedication & loyalty.
He inspired an entire generation by his untiring attitude & capacity to brave every adversity.
My heartfelt homage !? pic.twitter.com/5r13Uepl8i
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Air India Express cancels flights due to cabin crew shortage: Sources
New Delhi (PTI): Air India Express has cancelled "scores of flights" due to a shortage of cabin crew members as a section of them are reporting sick to protest against alleged mismanagement at the Tata Group-owned airline, according to sources.
Discontent has been brewing among a section of the cabin crew at the low-cost carrier for some time now, especially after the start of the process of merger of AIX Connect, formerly AirAsia India, with itself.
The sources on Wednesday said several cabin crew members started reporting sick since Monday evening and as there are not enough cabin crew members, "scores of flights" have been cancelled at various airports, including Kochi, Calicut and Bangalore.
Late last month, a union representing a section of the Air India Express cabin crew alleged that the airline is being mismanaged and there is a lack of equality in the treatment of the staff.
Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU), a registered union, which claims to represent around 300 cabin crew members, mostly seniors, had also alleged that mismanagement of the affairs has affected the morale of the employees.
Many passengers took to social media on Wednesday complaining about the sudden cancellation of flights.
In response to a passenger's post on X about flight cancellation, Air India Express apologised and said the flight was cancelled "due to operational reasons".
"As part of our service recovery process, you can either opt to reschedule the flight within the next 7 days or request a full refund through our chat bot Tia...," the airline said in a post on X.
The development at Air India Express comes a month after Tata Group full-service carrier Vistara witnessed pilot woes, forcing it to temporarily cut down capacity by 10 per cent or 25-30 flights daily.
As part of consolidating its airline business, Tata Group is merging Air India Express and AIX Connect, as well as Vistara with Air India.
