Air India should be run only by Indians: Dr Mohan Bhagwat

Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Chief Mohan Bhagwat said Air India should be run only by an Indian company. His statement comes in the backdrop of the government’s recent decision to put up 76 per cent of the state-owed carrier  for sale.

He was speaking at an event at Bombay Stock Exchange on the Indian economy and policies, along with NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar.

“Air India is a loss-making company, but there is another side too. The company has landing rights in various countries and trained staff that is an asset to the company. The question isn’t whether Air India isn’t running well, but whether it’s being run well,” he said. 

“If the private players are ready to run the company then the government can go ahead, but the players should be Indian, not foreigners,” he said.

Bhagwat said all Indians cannot be cashless, as many sections of the society are unable to get access to technology. “India has to be less-cash in future,” he said. 

“All ministries have to come together and frame similar policies for the nation,” he suggested.   

Bhagwat said India should not limit its perspective to any ‘-ism’ like capitalism or communism. 

“Our economy should be self-reliant and de-centralised,” he added. 

Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar said, “We will have to create our economic policies in the context of Indian roots. Our economy is poised on the edge of upward growth. By 2022 we have a target to be at 10 per cent growth,” he said.