IndiGo passenger, air-hostess engage in heated exchange mid-air over meal choice
DGCA looking into incident
New Delhi, Dec 21: An IndiGo passenger and an air-hostess were involved in a heated exchange over choice of meals onboard a flight from Istanbul to Delhi, and aviation regulator DGCA is looking into the incident.
A video clip of the heated exchange onboard the flight on December 16 was shared on social media on Wednesday.
In a statement, the airline said it is looking into the incident.
"My crew is crying because of you," the IndiGo air-hostess is heard telling the passenger.
The passenger is also heard telling her, "You are a servant of a passenger", to which she responded, "I am an employee and not your servant... I am not your servant."
At one point, the passenger said "why are you yelling? Shut up" to the air-hostess, who also asks the former to "shut up", according to the nearly one-minute-long clip that was apparently shot by a passenger in the flight.
According to IndiGo, the issue is related to meals chosen by certain passengers travelling via a codeshare connection.
A senior official at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the regulator is looking into the incident and shall take appropriate action.
"We are aware of the incident that took place on flight 6E 12 from Istanbul to Delhi on December 16, 2022. The issue was related to meals chosen by certain passengers travelling via a codeshare connection.
"IndiGo is cognizant of the needs of its customers and it is our constant endeavour to provide a courteous and hassle-free experience to our customers. We are looking into the incident," the airline said in the statement.
Codeshare allows an airline to book its passengers on its partner carriers and provide seamless travel to destinations where it has no presence.
The crew also deserve respect. They are taught to maintain their cool and calm, serve people with a smile, even in the most challenging situations. But, that doesn’t mean people can be rude and insult them.
— Madhav Sharma (@HashTagCricket) December 21, 2022
Back your crew, @IndiGo6E. Don’t abandon her. pic.twitter.com/Xt4jchc8rI
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BJP demands excise minister's resignation after officer caught taking Rs 25 lakh bribe
Bengaluru (PTI): Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka on Sunday demanded that the state Excise Minister R B Timmapur should resign in the wake of the arrest of a Deputy Commissioner of the Excise Department, Jagadeesh Naik, while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh.
Along with him, two other officials, Superintendent of Excise Thammanna K M and Excise Constable Lakkappa Gani, were also caught. According to Lokayukta officials, they have been accused of demanding Rs 80 lakh to issue CL-7 (Hotels & Boarding Houses) and micro brewery licence.
"Since Timmapur is the Excise Minister, we demand his resignation. If he doesn't step down, then we will be compelled to assume that this is an 80 per cent commission government," Ashoka said in a press conference.
He alleged that crores of rupees are being collected as bribes in the Excise Department in the matter of granting licences.
He said a recent incident in which Lokayukta officials caught an officer red-handed while taking a bribe for a single licence was proof of this corruption.
Ashoka alleged that since the excise department comes under the finance ministry, and the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who holds the finance portfolio, is directly responsible for the corruption.
Ashoka also played an audio alleging that the Excise Deputy Commissioner Naik was in conversation with the excise minister.
"The Congress kept asking for evidence. There is audio saying bribes must be paid to the minister. It says the minister's money has to be given, money has to go to four tables in the Excise Department, everyone has to be given a share, and it has to reach the minister. It even says that if money is paid quickly, licences will be given on the spot. Is this a government?" he asked.
Ashoka further alleged that drug and liquor abuse have increased in the State and that the police department is steeped in corruption.
Speaking on the occasion, the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy alleged that corruption worth Rs 3,542 crore has taken place in the excise department.
"If the CM does not remove Timmapur, it will clearly indicate the CM's role as well. We will fight this politically and legally," he warned and said that the BJP will launch an agitation.
The Minister dismissed the charges.
Speaking to PTI, he said why he should be held accountable for someone misusing his name.
"If someone has done something wrong and misused my name, then we will suspend him. What can I do if the Excise DC misuses my name? Why should I resign for it?" Timmapur said.
