West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee will meet with BLAs from select Assembly constituencies in Kolkata and neighbouring districts (Express File Photo by Partha Paul)
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee targeted the Centre over the IndiGo flight disruptions impacting thousands of passengers over the past week on Monday, claiming that the policy of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) was implemented without any planning. Before attending a meeting in Cooch Behar on Monday, she attacked the Centre from Kolkata airport.
Banerjee said, “I also think that the pilot or the crew needs rest. But implementing any new policy requires planning. Government planning should have been emphasised before implementing this policy. Time is very precious to people. Many passengers have been harassed for the past few days. My request to the government is, plan early. Provide alternatives where necessary and ensure that benefits reach people.”
Under the new FDTL rules of the country’s flight regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the weekly rest period for pilots has been increased to 48 hours from 36 and night landings have been limited to two from six earlier. The norms have also extended the definition of night hours by an hour. This was implemented in two phases, the second coming into force in November.
Speaking of the Central government, Banerjee said, “They only think about elections. They don’t think about people’s convenience.” Banerjee also demanded that the Centre should compensate passengers for their “suffering”. She also said that passengers could approach court.
At the Kolkata airport, Banerjee met Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. Banerjee and Tobgay both called the meeting a courtesy call.
Banerjee also answered a question on why she did not attend the Gita recitation programme held at Brigade Parade Ground on Sunday. She said, “How can I go to BJP’s program?”
She said, “If it was an impartial programme, I would have gone. How do I go to a BJP event? I have a party, I have an ideology. I respect all religions. I respect all castes, all creeds. But where the BJP is directly involved, how do I go? Those who say they hate Netaji, who do not accept Gandhiji — I can’t go there. The soil of Bengal did not teach me this.”
Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain.
Experience
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express.
Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news.
Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions.
Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal.
Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla.
Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent.
Education
Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting.
Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University.
Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More
