With the aviation sector grappling with a severe crisis as IndiGo cancelled over 1,000 flights on December 5, followed by hundreds more on December 6, Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil sharply criticized the BJP government, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to deliver on his promise of “ease of air travel” under the UDAN scheme, and instead causing a “cease of air travel.”
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Senthil attributed the turmoil to the government’s prioritization of corporate interests over passenger safety and welfare. He stated, “The IndiGo chaos is no accident. It is the direct result of the BJP’s relentless push to create a duopoly in the aviation sector, and the disastrous effects are now painfully evident.”
Senthil added, “IndiGo’s massive flight cancellations have brought air travel across the nation to a halt. This crisis is not a sudden breakdown but the foreseeable consequence of a government determined to crush competition, favour select corporations, and reshape the industry for a small elite.”
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had introduced Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules in January 2024, with phased implementation beginning July 2025 and full enforcement from November 1, 2025. However, these rules were withdrawn amid the crisis, raising serious concerns about pilot fatigue and passenger safety.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also condemned the government’s “duopoly model,” stating that India deserves fair competition, not “match-fixing monopolies.” Opposition figures, including P Chidambaram and KC Venugopal, voiced similar criticisms, accusing the government of neglecting the aviation sector while favouring corporate interests.
In response, the government has ordered a high-level inquiry into the disruptions. Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu promised strict action against those responsible. However, Opposition leaders remain skeptical, questioning the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
