India described the political unrest in Egypt as an internal affair of that country, only to elaborate later in the day that the popular uprising reflected the people’s aspirations for reform.
“With reference to what is happening there, it is an internal affair of that country[.] We hope that a resolution would be found which would be acceptable to those who are demonstrating there,” external affairs minister S.M. Krishna had told journalists at the Tamil Nadu House after a meeting with Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi.
By evening, a reluctant New Delhi had issued a second statement in three days on the unfolding situation in Egypt, only this time it described the “mass protests” as “an articulation of the aspirations of the Egyptian people for reform”. In the briefly-worded statement, the MEA said that “it is hoped that the current situation will be resolved in a peaceful manner.
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AI: Fares for commercial jets recovered
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI
Feb. 1: Responding to the controversy on fares of about `40,000 for adults being charged from passengers for the special flights operated from Cairo to Mumbai, Air India hit back on Tuesday, saying that the airline had “only recovered its costs” for the “unscheduled commercial flights” that were operated from Egypt on Sunday and Monday.
Air India also stated that it had also flown back passengers who “gave an undertaking to pay the air-fare” on their arrival in India, thereby indicating that passengers had not been asked to pay cash up-front at Cairo itself. The airline said that it had done so after taking a “humane” view (of the fact that passengers may not have the ready cash to pay the fares immediately at Cairo).
“In fact, to make the Cairo operation a success, Air India had to withdraw one of its services between Mumbai and Cochin and reschedule its flights to Dammam and Jeddah,” Air India stated.
Government sources also indicated to this newspaper that the “professionals” who were eager to return from Egypt had the financial capability of paying the Air India fares.