Page 60 - 1 to 18 August 2020

Imphal Times Supplementary issue Page No. 4
‘Tri-colour a symbol Air India sacks 48 pilots overnight
of martyrs’ sacrifice By Raju Vernekar India, Rajiv Bansal, sought his
Mumbai, Aug. 16:
“urgent intervention against
and nation’s pride’ The services of 48 pilots of illegal terminations of pilots”.
Withdrawal of resignations
Air India, who had resigned was accepted earlier
earlier, but had withdrawn “Pilots who tendered their
IT correspondent year across the Northeast their resignations within the resignations as far back as July
Guwahati, Aug 16: region. Calling it a ‘colonial six months’ notice period time 2019 but later withdrew them
Indian I-Day’, National as per rules, were suddenly well within the mandatory 6
Sangbadik Sangha Purbanchal Socialist Council of Nagalim terminated by Air India, India’s months’ notice period have
(SSP) paid rich tributes to the and United Liberation Front of national career on Thursday nevertheless been relieved
martyrs of India’s freedom Assam (Independent) asked night, creating a flutter in from service starting from 10
movement on the occasion of the people not to take part in I- aviation circles. PM on Thursday. In fact in the
74th Independence Day at the Day related programs. They The pilots who were employed termination letters dated 13
premises of Pragjyotish called for a total shutdown on in flying the Airbus 320 fleet August 2020, the company
newspaper in the city’s 15 August in theregion, of the airline, had tendered acknowledged, the earlier
Bamunimaidam locality, terming it the Western part of their resignations in July 2019 acceptance of the withdrawal
following Covid-19 protocols South-East Asia (WESEA). In but had withdrawn their of resignation. This dehors the “ A pilot was made to operate these resignations when Reacting to the story the Air
with senior journalist Rupam a resignation. However, their law’. How is this justified?” the flight (AI 804/506) on 14 they were asked to hold on, India later clarified that 57 of
Barua unfurling the national separate statement, six other services were terminated by ICPA added August 2020. In this case, by their prospective its pilots, “seeking greener
Tri-colour. insurgent outfits namely Air India, issuing them letters ”As per Company Operations we’re the crew, passengers, employers. The withdrawal pastures”, had resigned from
Expressing gratitude to the People’s Democratic Council of at 10 PM on Thursday. Manual (Page 1-110), once the and aircraft insurance valid of these resignations was the airline “citing financial
martyrs who sacrificed Karbi Longri, Kamatapur In the termination letters, Air resignation accepted by the ?, The pilots who operated duly accepted by the Air constraints”. The pilots
immensely to make India a L i b e r a t i o n India cited financial office of the CMD, the crew these flights were not India. include permanent and
sovereign nation, Barua urged Organization, Hynniewtrep constraints and the impact of would be informed technically employees of Air Recently, after a recent Board contractual employees.
citizens to set aside 15 August National Council, Kanglei Covid-19 on the commercial accordingly and the 6 India from the close of office of Directors’ decision at Air “Some of the pilots later on
and 26 January every year to Yawol Kanna Lup, Kangleipak functioning of the company months’ notice period will on 13 August.2020. This is a India authorized CMD Rajiv had withdrawn their
pay them homage. Protests Communist Party and National for the decision taken. “The them commence. The crew violation of comical Bansal to send employees on resignations. Air India no
and demonstrations should be Liberation Front of Twipra current operations are a small were not informed of the proportion, not to mention a compulsory leave without longer requires the services
avoided on these two days so called upon fraction of pre-COVID level acceptance of resignation grave flight safety hazard. pay, there was much hue and of these pilots and has now
that all Indians can stand the people of Northeastern and are unlikely to increase in and therefore by extension, What would have been the cry, with the airline accepted their resignations.
together as one, he asserted, States to ‘take responsibility to the near foreseeable future. the commencement of any mental state of these pilots subsequently assuring they Moreover, some of these
pointing out that certain make the I-Day ban a grand The Company is incurring notice period”, the ICPA after knowing their services would not be laying off any pilots [14] have filed writ
misguided quarters have no success’. huge net losses and does not stated. were terminated?” the ICPA employees. For now, some of petitions ... seeking a
compunctions in airing their SSP convener Nava Thakuria have the financial ability to ”We have only recently asked in the letter. the pilots who have received direction to Air India to
grievances even on such and Pragjyotish editor Khagen pay, the letters stated. written to you bringing to The pilots had tendered their their marching orders have accept the withdrawal of their
sacred occasions although Saikia welcomed participants to Ironically some of the sacked light the “bias and excesses” resignations when they had already started knocking on resignations. This matter is
they are very conscious about the flag-hoisting ceremony, pilots flew on Friday not of the personnel department received offers from other the doors of the courts, sub judice,” the statement
their constitutional rights. which was graced by knowing their services were towards pilots. The ink is airlines, but later withdrew seeking justice. said.
“India could adopt a journalists Satyadhar Matak, terminated on Thursday night barely dry on that letter and
constitution only after being Raman Bora, Rubie Das, itself, exposing a lack of the Personnel Department is
freed of foreign yoke, thanks Girindra Kr Karjee, Sankar coordination between once again running amok,
to the martyrs. It is the moral Gohain, Iswar Mahanta, different departments of Air breaking all rules and the Law
responsibility of every Chandra Kr Barua, Kaushik Kr India. of the land. Thursday night,
generation to recall their Deka, Sewali Kalita along with Captain Praveen Keerthi, around 50 pilots have
sacrifices and express gratitude Pramod Kalita, Utpal Dutta, General Secretary, Indian received illegal termination
as proud Indians,” he said. Jagadindra Raychoudhury, Commercial Pilots’ letters from Personnel
Earlier, at least eight banned Basanta Barthakur, Bharati Association (ICPA) in a letter Department in blatant
armed outfits issued media Kalita, Kishor Sarma, Ila Deka, dated 14 August 2020 violation of Company’s
statements calling to boycott Tina and Krishna among addressed to Chairman & Operation Manual and
the I-Day celebrations this others. Managing Director of Air service rules,” the ICPA said.
International News
Tricolour hoisted for first time at New
York’s Times Square to celebrate
India’s 74th Independence Day
Agency would be second in line of
New York, Aug 16: succession after Biden.
“Today on August 15, 2020.
The tricolour was hoisted for I stand before you as the first
the first time at the iconic candidate for vice president
Times Square in New York of the United States of South
yesterday to celebrate Asian descent,” Harris said
India’s 74th Independence in her address organised by
Day. India’s Consul General Indians for Biden National
in New York, Randhir Jaiswal Council.
hoisted the Indian flag Joined by Biden, she greeted
during a special Indian Americans on the
commemoration of occasion of India’s
Independence Day at Times Independence Day.
Square. It was organised by Harris was born on October
the Federation of Indian 20 in 1964, at Oakland in
Associations. California. Her mother
Deputy Consul General Shyamala Gopalan migrated
Shatrughna Sinha, FIA to the US from Tamil Nadu in
Chairman Ankur Vaidya, FIA India, while her father,
veteran and prominent Donald J Harris, moved to
Indian-American physician the US from Jamaica.
Sudhir Parikh and others dressed in traditional Indian the memory lane, mentioning Harris said it was during the
including people from the clothes and wearing masks, her “long walks” in Madras civil rights movement of Dr
Indian diaspora joined the joined the celebration. now Chennai with her Martin Luther King Jr that
commemoration. On the other hand , grandfather who would tell her mother met her father.
Addressing the gathering, Democratic Vice-Presidential her about the “heroes” Growing up, my mother
Mr Jaiswal said Prime nominee Senator Kamala responsible for the birth of would take my sister Maya
Minister Narendra Modi has Harris, during her maiden the world’s largest and me back to what was
outlined India’s way forward address to the Indian- democracy. then called Madras because
and the aspirations to build American community, Democratic presidential she wanted us to
a new India, and they are reflected on her proud nominee Joe Biden, 77, ed understand where she had
committed to taking the Indian heritage and recalled history by selecting Harris, come from and where we had
country forward on the basis how her mother always an Indian-American and an ancestry. And of course, she
of those aspirations. He said wanted to instill in her a “love African-American, as his always wanted to instill in
that the celebration of India’s for good idli”. running mate in the us, a love of good idli, Harris
Independence Day is as Harris, 55, who is the first presidential election on said. Our community is NEILIT Advt./ Order No.071/ 1-day
much a celebration of colored person to be November 3. bound together by so much
friendship with this beautiful selected as a vice- Born to a Jamaican father and more than our shared
country. presidential candidate of a an Indian mother, California history and culture, she
A large number of people, major party, took a trip down senator Harris, if elected, said..
Edited by Rinku Khumukcham, Owned and Published by Iboyaima Khuman at Keishamthong Elangbam Leikai, Imphal and Printed by him at M/s Imphal Times Printers, Elangbam Leikai Imphal West,, Resident Editor- Jeet Akoijam