Opponents will have no choice but to accept RSS, says Kageri; Muslims and Christians too, adds Eshwarappa

Bengaluru, Mar 24: In a bizarre moment in Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri today said all naysayers will have no choice but to accept the RSS soon, while Rural Development Minister KS Eshwarappa stated that all Muslims and Christians too will become part of the RSS soon.

"The day is not far when everyone will have to accept the RSS as 'Our' RSS," Kageri said. The issue began during Siddaramaiah's debate on law and order situation in the state. During the course of his speech, Siddaramaiah said it was important to maintain mutual respect, irrespective of which political ideology one believed in.

In a lighter vein, he referred to Revenue Minister R Ashoka, saying, "You are a good human being. That is what matters. Even I am a good human being. Whether you belong to BJP or RSS only comes later."

Kageri, who jumped into the conversation asked Siddaramaiah why he was dragging the RSS into the conversation. "Why are you opposed to our RSS?" he asked.

Taking objection, Chamarajpet MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan questioned Kageri as to how he could say 'Our RSS' like an RSS representative while occupying the Speaker's seat, which is expected to be apartisan.

Asserting his statement Kageri said, "Of course, it is 'Our' RSS. What else can it be? Sooner or later even you will have to call it your RSS."

Revenue Minister R Ashoka joined in saying whether one liked it or not, all top political designations beginning from the Prime Minister were occupied by leaders belonging to the RSS.

Adding to the controversy, Eshwarappa said even Muslims and Christians will be part of the RSS soon.

Irked by this, Congress leaders including KJ George, Priyank Kharge, UT Khader, Anjali Nimbalkar among others criticised these statements. Even as the uproar continued, the Assembly was adjourned until afternoon.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

IndiGo meltdown: 200 flights cancelled; Bengaluru hit hard with 42 cancellations

News Network

December 3,2025

IndiGo, India’s largest airline, is battling one of its worst operational disruptions in recent years, with hundreds of delays and cancellations throwing domestic travel into chaos.

Government data on Tuesday showed its on-time performance plunging to 35%, an unusual dip for a carrier long associated with punctuality.

By Wednesday afternoon, airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad had collectively reported close to 200 cancellations, stranding travellers across the country.

Crew Shortage After New Duty Norms

A major trigger behind the meltdown is a severe crew shortage, especially among pilots, following the rollout of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms last month.

The rules mandate longer rest hours and more humane rosters — a shift IndiGo has struggled to incorporate across its vast network.

Sources said several flights were grounded due to lack of cabin crew, while some delays stretched upwards of eight hours.

With IndiGo controlling over 60% of India’s domestic aviation market, the ripple effect has impacted airports nationwide.

IndiGo Issues Apology, Lists “Compounding Factors”

In a statement, IndiGo acknowledged the large-scale disruption:

“We sincerely apologise to customers. A series of unforeseen operational challenges — technology glitches, winter schedule changes, adverse weather, system congestion and updated FDTL norms — created a compounding impact that could not have been anticipated.”

To stabilise operations, the airline has begun calibrated schedule adjustments for the next 48 hours, aiming to restore punctuality. Affected passengers are being offered refunds or alternate travel arrangements, IndiGo said.

What the FDTL Rules Require

The FDTL norms, designed to reduce pilot fatigue, cap duty and flying hours as follows:
•   Maximum 8 hours of flying per day
•   35 hours per week
•   125 hours per month
•   1,000 hours per year

Crew must also receive rest equalling twice the flight duration, with a minimum 10-hour rest period in any 24-hour window.

The DGCA introduced these limits to enhance flight safety.

Hyderabad: 33 Flights Cancelled, Long Queues Reported

Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport saw heavy early-morning crowds as 33 IndiGo flights (arrivals and departures) were cancelled.

The airport clarified on X that operations were normal, advising passengers to contact IndiGo directly for latest flight status.

Cancellations included flights to and from Visakhapatnam, Goa, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Madurai, Hubli, Bhopal and Bhubaneswar.

Bengaluru: 42 Flights Disrupted

Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport recorded 42 cancellations — 22 arrivals and 20 departures — affecting routes to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Goa, Kolkata and Lucknow.

Passengers Vent on Social Media

Irate travellers took to X to share their experiences. One passenger stranded in Hyderabad wrote: “I have been here since 3 a.m. and missed an important meeting.”

Another said: “My flight was pushed from 1:55 PM to 2:55 PM and now 4:35 PM. I was informed only three minutes before entering the airport.”

Delhi Airport Hit by Tech Glitch

At Delhi Airport, the disruption deepened due to a slowdown in the Amadeus system — used for reservations, check-ins and departure control.

The technical issue led to longer queues and sluggish processing, adding to delays already worsened by staff shortages.

Comments