Go First investigating wheelchair incident involving elderly passenger at Bengaluru airport
Mumbai/ New Delhi, Oct 14: Go First is investigating the incident of a Kolkata-bound elderly passenger unable to get a wheelchair at the Bengaluru airport earlier this week, according to an airline executive.
The incident happened on Wednesday early morning soon after the passenger's son seated him on a wheelchair that was available at the airport. The wheelchair belonged to IndiGo.
However, IndiGo staff asked the elderly passenger and his son to return the wheelchair since it was already pre-booked for another IndiGo traveller, according to three executives in the know of the development.
Subsequently, the elderly passenger had to walk till the aircraft as he had not pre-booked a wheelchair. Also, there was no other wheelchair available at the airport at that time, as per one of the executives.
The elderly passenger, his wife and son were travelling to Kolkata as there was a family emergency. However, the son could not board the flight as he was late and the boarding gate had already closed by then, the executives said.
The Go First executive said the airline is investigating the incident.
An IndiGo spokesperson said, "We are aware of the incident concerning a passenger of another airline at Bengaluru Airport. We are working with other airlines and the airport operators to collaboratively address exigencies to ensure passengers requiring special care have a comfortable and seamless travel experience."
There was no comment from Bengaluru airport.
Requests for wheelchair are made at the time of booking air tickets and once that option is chosen, then a dedicated person is deputed by the airline concerned to help the passenger till boarding the aircraft.
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Congress to challenge Waqf bill's constitutionality in Supreme Court 'very soon'
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Friday said it will "very soon" challenge in the Supreme Court the constitutionality of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 that has been passed in Parliament.
The opposition party also said it will continue to resist all "assaults" of the Modi government on the principles, provisions, and practices that are contained in the Constitution.
Parliament early Friday approved the Bill after the Rajya Sabha gave its nod to the contentious legislation following an over 13-hour debate.
In a post in Hindi on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "The atmosphere in the country regarding the Waqf Board Amendment Bill is such that it feels like this bill has been brought to harass minorities. Late at night in the Lok Sabha, when this bill was passed, it received 288 votes in favour and 232 votes against. Why did this happen? This means there are many flaws in the bill."
From this, one can guess that despite opposition from various parties, this bill was brought arbitrarily, he said.
"This 'might is right' -- won’t be good for anyone!" Kharge said.
In a post on X, AICC general secretary in-charge organisation Jairam Ramesh said, "The INC will very soon be challenging in the Supreme Court the constitutionality of the Wakf (Amendment) Bill."
"We are confident and will continue to resist all assaults of the Modi Govt on the principles, provisions, and practices that are contained in the Constitution of India," he said.
The discussion on the Waqf Bill in the Rajya Sabha witnessed staunch objections from opposition parties, which termed the Bill "anti-Muslim" and "unconstitutional" with the government responding that the "historic reform" would benefit the minority community.
The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 members voting in favour and 95 opposing it. It was passed in the Lok Sabha early Thursday, with 288 members supporting it and 232 against it.
Ramesh also said that the INC's challenge of the CAA, 2019 is being heard in the Supreme Court.
The INC's challenge of the 2019 amendments to the RTI Act, 2005 is being heard in the Supreme Court, he noted.
"The INC's challenge to the validity of the amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules (2024) is being heard in the Supreme Court.
"The INC's intervention to uphold the letter and spirit of the Places of Worship Act, 1991 is being heard in the Supreme Court," the Congress leader added.
The Waqf Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 members voting in favour and 95 opposing it. It was passed in the Lok Sabha early Thursday, with 288 members supporting it and 232 against it.
Parliament also approved the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025, with the Rajya Sabha giving its nod. The Lok Sabha had already given its assent to the Bill.
