The proprietor of a private airline now blaming the Income Tax Department for disruptions in its flight schedule is very misleading (“Centre rules out bailout, Kingfisher blames it on I-T, Feb. 21). If media reports are an indicator, the company is in a total financial mess, and there are serious doubts about passenger safety. In the shipping and airline industries, there is an international safety standards audit which also entails financial discipline and accessibility. If a proprietor is unable to operate an airline, it must close. If the proprietor is unable to pay salaries to his staff, how will he manage to pay for spare parts and ensure safety?
Y. Sivalinga Prasad,Chennai
Misusing one's political powers is not new (“AI deployed larger aircraft for Praful family?” Feb. 21). The fact that the RTI was used to get the required information about a trip to the Maldives by family members of the former Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel, must be welcomed. The present environment is favourable to encourage such investigations as a result of awareness created by Anna Hazare's sustained campaign against corruption in public life. RTI activists must keep up the pressure.
H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana,Mysore
