Interlocutor for GJM talks quits
In a move which could be a setback to the already derailed Gorkha Janmukti peace dialogue, Centre’s interlocutor for Darjeeling peace process Vijay Madan has resigned. Government sources confirmed the move and said that Mr Madan had expressed his desire to quit from the post after the GJM and West Bengal government seemed unbending in their stance. In February, the Centre had decided to send the government-appointed interlocutor to Darjeeling to help normalise the situation in the hills, which witnessed violence and shutdown following police firing on a rally by GJM supporters in Sipchu in Jalpaiguri killed two persons.
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Nine commercial aircraft for Libya evacuation
Age Correspondent
New Delhi
March 4: The government plans to deploy about nine commercial aircraft, including those of scheduled private airlines, in the evacuation effort from Libya by Sunday, sources said. Private airlines have been requested to contribute one aircraft each for the evacuation effort. National carrier Air India had earlier taken the lead in deploying three aircraft for the Libya evacuation operations. Meanwhile, in a statement, private carrier Kingfisher Airlines said that a “Kingfisher Airlines Airbus A321 aircraft with 196 seats for guests is scheduled to leave from New Delhi for Malta about 4.15 am on Saturday”. MCivil aviation secretary Nasim Zaidi also visited the integrated Terminal-3 at the New Delhi IGI airport on Friday.
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AI chief reaches out to unions
Age Correspondent
New Delhi
March 4: Expressing “concern” over the strike notice of the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) of Air India (domestic), Air India CMD, Arvind Jadhav on Friday reached out to the unions and “thanked” them for agreeing to civil aviation minister Vayalar Ravi’s suggestion for establishment of an independent committee headed by a retired judge to examine issues such as pay parity that are agitating the unions.
Some of the pilots have threatened to go on strike on March 9. “Like many, I am also concerned with the strike notice served by the ICPA, particularly at a time when Air India takes pride in evacuating hundreds of stranded fellow Indians in Libya and other countries, Mr Jadhav said.
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