lucknow, May 19 (IANS) Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh Saturday again asked striking Air Indian pilots to resume work, saying the government was willing to listen to them.
Speaking after the inauguration of a new airport terminal here, Singh accused the pilots of being rigid.
He said he failed to understand what good the pilots were doing by going on strike, causing financial losses to the national carrier and leading to the harassment of thousands.
“When one goes on strike, there may be some reasons but there is no point in being adamant and holding a system to ransom,” he said.
The minister added that the Delhi High Court had ruled that the strike was illegal, “and pilots must abide by the law”.
Assuring the striking pilots that there would be no victimization, he said he hoped a solution to the impasse would be found soon.
The pilots’ strike that has gone on for 12 days has cost the national carrier a loss of Rs.200 crore.
Several international flights have been cancelled, and the ones that are running have been clubbed with other flights.
