Sharad Yadav condemns recommended decision of 49 percent FDI in aviation sector

New Delhi, Jan 20 (ANI): Condemning the proposed decision of the Central Government to permit 49 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in aviation sector, Janta Dal United leader Sharad Yadav has said that such decision has not kept in view the overall situation in India.

He further lashed out at the Congress party-ruled government by saying that such a decision had been taken to favour Chairman of Kingfisher Airlines and liquor baron, Vijay Mallya who had exerted pressure for such an FDI to bail out his cash starved airlines.

"The Civil Aviation department of the country has been completely damaged and this one airline named Kingfisher is in huge losses and since the day it was in debt, he (Vijay Mallya) had been continuously asking the government to allow FDI, and the government is ready for the decision of the 49 percent of FDI because of this one single man," Yadav told media here on Thursday.

Yadav also said that government has placed the economy of the entire country at stake to solely help Mallya, who has incurred huge losses in the airline business.

"The step which government is trying to take is only for Kingfisher and I have earlier also said at a press conference on Kingfisher. Prime Minister told us that he would think over the matter but today I saw as I was out since two days that they (government) is allowing 49 percent in aviation. And interestingly, the countries from which they have adapted this policy don't function like a free market," Yadav addd.

He further said security system of the aviation sector is sensitive as such entry of FDI is adverse for the nation.

"I totally condemned this decision and I want to warn the government that the country will suffer because of this," said Sharad Yadav.

He also mentioned that this decision to permit FDI in aviation sector would create unemployment and people will face a huge labour problem across the country.

Recently, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and obtained green signal for 49 percent of FDI to overcome the debt crisis and allied cash crunch in the aviation sector. (ANI)