Journalism of Courage
Kingfisher Airlines chief Vijay Mallya today met Finance Minister P Chidambaram after which he said he discussed the issue of Rs 800-crore outstanding subsidy for his group company Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilisers.
When asked by reporters whether he would like to assure the airline lenders,who had decided to start process to recover over Rs 7,500 crore dues,”Why should I give them (lenders) assurances through you (media).”
Later he told PTI that he had come for “a totally different reason”.
“I have been running between the Finance Ministry and Fertiliser Ministry because MCF has got an outstanding subsidy bill of over Rs 800 crore,” he added.
On the relaunch of the airline,he merely said,”It is between the Civil Aviation Ministry and Kingfisher Airlines.”
Kingfisher,which has over Rs 15,000 crore in the form of debt,accumulated losses and various dues,has remained grounded since October 1 last year and its flying licence,suspended that month,expired on December 31 last year.
