Modi govt grants ‘International’ status to sensitive defence airport for Anant Ambani’s wedding
New Delhi: In a move raising eyebrows, the Narendra Modi government has granted temporary international status to the strategically sensitive defence airport in Gujarat's Jamnagar for just 10 days. This unusual decision is ostensibly to accommodate the arrival of guests attending the wedding of Mukesh Ambani's son, Anant Ambani, to Radhika Merchant.
The international status for the Indian Air Force airport, located near the Pakistan border, is applicable from February 25 to March 5.
Jamnagar airport, situated in close proximity to the Pakistan border, has received international status for the specific purpose of accommodating the influx of guests arriving for the grand wedding celebration. This decision allows the airport to handle international flights during the specified period, enabling direct arrivals for the high-profile event.
Mukesh Ambani, a prominent billionaire and close associate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is hosting numerous guests from around the world for his son Anant Ambani's wedding to Radhika Merchant. The extravagant celebration is expected to draw attendees from various global locations.
According to airport officials, between February 28 and March 4, the Jamnagar airport anticipates receiving a considerable number of aircraft, with approximately 150 expected during this period. Out of these, around 50 flights are slated to arrive directly from foreign destinations. This surge in air traffic is a significant deviation from the airport's usual operations, as it typically handles only a few scheduled and non-scheduled flights on a daily basis.
To manage the substantial increase in air traffic, the Union government's Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Home Affairs have collaborated to establish a Custom, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) facility at the airport. The special arrangements include expanding the size of the passenger building from 475 sq m to 900 sq m, allowing for increased capacity during peak hours. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has expedited the expansion work in preparation for the influx of guests.
Furthermore, the defence airport has been authorized to permit private aircraft access to its sensitive "technical" area for the wedding event. This is a departure from the usual security protocols and highlights the exceptional nature of the arrangements made for this occasion.
To accommodate the surge in visitors, various measures have been implemented, such as the addition of housekeeping staff, increased security deployment, and an expanded workforce for ground handling agencies. The additional staff and resources are aimed at ensuring the smooth operation and management of the airport during this extraordinary period.
It is noteworthy that the Ambani family's company, Reliance Industries, has been granted permission to make special arrangements near the defence airport to receive the dignitaries attending the pre-wedding festivities.
This decision to grant international status to the Jamnagar airport for a limited duration showcases the exceptional preparations made by the government to facilitate the high-profile wedding event. The move has sparked discussions about whether it aligns with Prime Minister Modi's appeal in November 2023 for affluent Indians to 'wed in India.' However, it remains unclear if the special arrangements at the Jamnagar airport are part of a broader policy shift or a one-time gesture extended to the Ambani family.
It is essential to note that this is not the first instance of a government facilitating special arrangements for a high-profile wedding event. In May 2023, South Africa witnessed a similar situation when the government allowed a special charter flight carrying guests from India at the defence airport for the wedding of the son of an Indian-origin billionaire business tycoon close to former President Jacob Zuma. The incident sparked controversy and led to investigations into whether diplomatic privileges had been abused.
With South African and international Press highlighting the ‘political scandal’, the then ruling ANC government issued a statement saying, “The African National Congress, driven by the concern for the safety and sovereignty of South Africa, shall never allow a situation where our ports of entry and National Key Points are penetrated with impunity.”
South African minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane told reporters that an investigation had been ordered and it would also “unearth whether diplomatic privilege had been abused (by the Indian embassy)”.
South African foreign ministry’s chief of protocol Bruce Koloane was also suspended immediately for allowing the Waterklof Air Force Base airport near Pretoria to be used by the Guptas pending the investigation.
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Trump pauses tariffs on most nations for 90 days, raises taxes on Chinese imports
Washington, Apr 9 (AP): Facing a global market meltdown, President Donald Trump on Wednesday abruptly backed down on his tariffs on most nations for 90 days, but raised his tax rate on Chinese imports to 125 per cent.
It was seemingly an attempt to narrow what had been an unprecedented trade war between the US and most of the world to one between the US and China.
Global markets surged on the development, but the precise details of Trump's plans to ease tariffs on non-China trade partners were not immediately clear.
