Praful asks AI pilots to resume duties or face consequences

Hours after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took stock of the situation arising out of the agitation,Patel said the decision on PLI cut would be implemented only after discussions with the pilots.

Describing the “strike” by the executive pilots as a “matter of concern”,the minister asked them “see reason” and “cooperate”.

“I hope the entire airline (AI) will come back to full operation from tomorrow,failing which the management will be free to take any decision that it feels is necessary,” he said.

His warning came as 20 more executive pilots joined the stir taking the number of those reporting “sick” to 200. The protest led to cancellation of over 230 flights over the last four days,with 80 being cancelled only on Tuesday.

Government sources said midnight tonight would be the “cut-off” mark and necessary action would be taken if the pilots do not report to work,responding to the “appeal”.

Captain V K Bhalla,who is spearheading the pilots’ agitation,was unfazed by the warning as he made it clear that the stir would not be given up. “We are not resuming work tomorrow,” he said.

Arguing that the order for PLI cut of up to 50 per cent was not implemented yet,Patel cited an order of September 27,a day after the pilots resorted to the stir,which talked about modifying the earlier order.

“It has been decided to modify the aforesaid order in respect to its applicability to Executive Pilots. The modifications will be discussed with a Committee of Executive Pilots before being finalised,” said the order furnished the minister.”

“The order is very clear — there is a status quo,” Patel said,adding “then why is there confrontation?” He said the salary along with actual PLI has been paid to the Executive Pilots for July and only that for August remains to be paid.

AI sources said the salary and PLI would be disbursed to the pilots by October seven.