Chief minister Oommen Chandy has suggested that the Union Government charter flights from the Middle East to clear the extra rush due to the cancellation of Air India flights following the pilot’s strike.
Replying to a calling attention motion moved by A.A. Arif of the CPM in the assembly Tuesday, Chandy said the state had urged the Centre to see if chartered flights could be operated charging only the normal ticket rates.
He would take up the matter with civil aviation minister Ajith Singh during his visit to Delhi on July 2 and 3. More than 20 international flights to the state were being cancelled on account of the strike by Air India pilots, Chandy said.
Discussions with student unions: While answering a submission by V. Sivankutty of the CPM, the CM said he would convene a meeting with student unions to discuss the recent lathi-charge on students in the capital.
Home minister Thiruvan-choor Radhakrishnan also assured the Opposition that DGP Jacob Punnoose would probe the context in which the lathi-charge took place.
The government will take appropriate action after getting the report of the DGP. Some unruly scenes were witnessed in the assembly over the lathi-charge when Opposition members displayed placards at the start of Question Hour.
The Opposition calmed down when the Speaker said the matter would be considered as a submission during Zero Hour.
While Sivankutty was presenting the submission, the Opposition rose from their seats displaying dailies containing pictures of the police action on students.