Minor rise in sick leave among Air India pilots after Ahmedabad crash: Govt tells Parliament
112 pilots, including 51 commanders, reported being sick four days after AI-171 crash
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New Delhi: In the wake of the fatal crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, which claimed 260 lives, the airline witnessed a minor increase in sick leave reported by its pilots, the government informed the Parliament on Thursday.
Responding to a query on whether there had been mass sick reporting by Air India flight crew following the crash, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol stated that 112 pilots reported being sick on June 16. This included 51 Commanders (P1) and 61 First Officers (P2).
"Air India reported a minor increase in sick leaves reported by pilots across all fleets in the aftermath of the AI-171 accident. On 16.06.2025, a total of 112 pilots reported sick, comprising 51 Commanders (P1) and 61 First Officers (P2)," the minister said in a written reply.
To address mental health in aviation, Mohol cited a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) circular issued in February 2023. The circular advised airlines to implement customised training modules for flight crew and air traffic controllers (ATCOs) to help them recognise and manage the adverse effects of mental health conditions.
Additionally, organisations (scheduled and non-scheduled operators, Flying Training Organisations and the Airports Authority of India) were advised to establish a Peer Support Programme (PSP). This programme is aimed at providing professional support and helping crew members cope with psychological stress.
The Air India passenger plane bound for London's Gatwick airport crashed shortly after taking off in Ahmedabad. The crash claimed 260 lives, including 241 passengers who were onboard the plane and 19 people on the ground. One passenger survived the crash.
Meanwhile, in another written reply, Mohol stated that the Ministry of Civil Aviation currently has no specific policy regarding compensation for civilians on the ground who suffer damages as a result of a plane crash.
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Kangana Ranaut sparks row: Claims Gandhi made 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' the national anthem
New Delhi: A significant political controversy has erupted following the Modi government's decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a move that has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties. The row was further fueled by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, who, while defending the name change, erroneously claimed that Mahatma Gandhi had made the devotional song "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram" India’s national anthem.
The central government has rebranded the flagship rural employment scheme from MGNREGA to the "Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission," abbreviated as VB-G RAM G. The removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme has been termed an insult to the Father of the Nation by the Congress and other opposition parties.
When questioned by the media outside Parliament regarding the opposition's allegations, Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut defended the government's decision by invoking Mahatma Gandhi's devotion to Lord Ram.
"How is naming it 'Ram Ji' an insult to Gandhi ji?" Ranaut asked. "Mahatma Gandhi made 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' the national anthem to organize the entire country. Therefore, this is an insult to Mahatma Gandhi? The government is fulfilling his dream by giving it the name of Ram."
Ranaut's claim regarding the national anthem was immediately seized upon by the opposition. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate shared the video of Ranaut’s statement on social media, tweeting sarcastically, "Come on brother, today we learned a new national anthem! The BJP is full of such gems."
Social media users also trolled the MP for the factual error. One user quipped, "Kangana ji forgot to mention that Bapu made this the national anthem after the country got independence in 2014," while another commented that the party finds people who "don't use their brains while forwarding WhatsApp messages."
Beyond the social media mockery, senior Congress leaders criticised the renaming on ideological grounds. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the move.
"The biggest irony is that Mahatma Gandhi was a lifelong devotee of Lord Ram and said 'Hey Ram' in his last moments," Gehlot wrote. "Today, the central government is making a despicable attempt to sideline Gandhi ji under the guise of the same 'Ram' name (VB-G RAM G), which is highly condemnable."
मनरेगा का नाम बदलने की केंद्र सरकार की कवायद महात्मा गांधी के प्रति उनकी ओछी मानसिकता और असम्मान का प्रमाण है। सरकार पहले 'पूज्य बापू' के नाम का शिगूफा छोड़ती है और फजीहत होने पर अब 'विकसित भारत-गारंटी फॉर रोजगार एंड आजीविका मिशन (VB-G RAM G)' जैसा नाम थोपना चाहती है। बार-बार नाम…
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) December 15, 2025
गांधी जी ने ‘रघुपति राघव राजा राम’ को लेकर नेशनल एंथम बनाया था
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) December 16, 2025
BJP MP कंगना रनौत
चलो भाई आज नया नेशनल एंथम भी पता चला है!
BJP में एक से एक शिरोमणि भरे पड़े हैं 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/9DvyV5xLb1
