CPI(M) demands probe into Jet-Sahara merger

New Delhi, Mar 10: The CPI(M) today (Mar 10, 2006) demanded a thorough probe into the technical and financial aspects of the recent Jet and Sahara airways merger, saying it would lead to a trend toward monopoly with Jet controlling 75 per cent of airport infrastructure of the country without leaving a level playing field.

''We will not accept this situation wherein there is no regulatory authority and a national civil aviation policy,'' CPI(M) parliamentary group leader in the Rajya Sabha Nilotpal Basu told newspersons here.

At a press conference inside Parliament complex, Mr Basu, along with party leaders Rup Chand Pal and M Salim Mohammad, also accused the UPA government of ''shifting'' its stand on Iran and not playing its role in preventing the referral of Iran to the UN Security Council.

Earlier, party senior leader and Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said the party which began its three-day deliberations here, was currently discussing strategy for the coming Assembly polls and the fallout of the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme moving to the UN Security Council, among other things.

Mr Basu said the deal reflected the continuation of the market oriented policy leading to phenomenal growth of monopoly. ''The merger, if all the entitlements of Sahara automatically go to Jet, would mean 75 per cent of the country's airport infrastructure will be controlled by Jet.'' The CPI(M) leaders also pointed towards an ''unprecedented'' decision of the government to pass the union budget in the first half of the Budget session.

''It has created a new situation whereby the long-earned right of Parliament to scrutinise the demand for grants in detail will largely become infructuose,'' they said, adding that the government should assure that this would come up later on during the supplementary demands.

UNI