Anant Kumar Hegde’s Rs 40,000 cr claim is false, says Fadnavis

News Network

December 2, 2019

Mumbai, Dec 2: Rejecting Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Anant Kumar Hedge's claim, former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said no money was returned to the Centre and that he did not take any such decision as caretaker chief minister.

Hegde, the MP for Uttara Kannada (Karnataka), said on Saturday that his party colleague Devendra Fadnavis was made Maharashtra chief minister, despite lacking majority, to prevent misuse of central funds to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore by the opposition coalition led by the Shiv Sena.

In his reply, Fadnavis said, "No money has been returned to the Centre and no policy decision was taken by him as caretaker chief minister."

"This claim is completely false. No such incident occurred. As far as the bullet train project is concerned, the Maharashtra government has no role except land acquisition."

He further clarified that neither did central government ask for any money nor did the Maharashtra government honour any such request.

Earlier on Saturday, Anant Kumar said Fadnavis just took 15 hours to move the money and that all of it (Rs 40,000 crore) was returned to the central government. He added that the BJP had staged a "drama" just to save the funds.

Sources close to Devendra Fadnavis rubbished Hedge's comments and added his remarks were based on a message forwarded on WhatsApp.

They added that the only decision taken by Fadnavis administration during the short-lived tenure was the release of aid for farmers.

Also Read: Fadnavis made CM to 'protect' Rs 40k crore funds: Anant Kumar Hegde

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Flight cancellations strand passengers overnight at Mangaluru Airport

News Network

December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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