Poojary questions Advani's 'morality'

October 29, 2011

Mangalore, October 29: Taking a dig at former deputy prime minister L K Advani's Jan Chetana Yatra, which is supposed to entre Karnataka Sunday, Congress veteran B Janardhan Poojary questioned the moral right of the octogenarian leader to hold an anti-corruption rally, when many senior BJP leaders in the state are involved in mega scandals.

Addressing a press meet here on Sunday, former KPCC president dared Mr Advani to demand the resignation of Home Minister R Ashoka, who is facing land grabbing charges, and sack former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, who is remanded in judicial custody, from the party, if he has any morality.

Coming down heavily on rath yatra habit of Mr Advani, he dubbed the Jana Chetana Yatra as mere a drama.

Recalling the violent and hateful history of BJP stalwart's previous rath yatras, Mr Poojary said that once he had launched a rath yatra with a pledge to build Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Their mission ended up in demolition of Babri Masjid, but, their pledge of temple construction remained unfulfilled even today, he said.

“Now, you pledge to fight against corruption through Jan Chetana Yatra. But, do you really have the moral right to rally against corruption?”, Mr Poojary quested the BJP leader in his typical way.

Reminding that corruption in BJP is not confined to Karnataka, he said, when Mr Advani was the home minister of India, then BJP national president Bangaru Laxman was caught red hand while receiving bribe. Moreover leaders like George Fernandes and Jaya Jaitley were also in the list of corrupt politicians. “Had you taken any action on those leaders when you were in the power at the Centre,” Mr Pooajary asked the former Dy PM.

Satirising Mr Advani's slogans against corruption and his harsh remarks against Congress government, Mr Poojary said that he should not forget that he is sitting in the glass house. “Have your questioned yourself before blaming others?” he asked.

He also recalled that Mr Advani himself had refused to step down from the power as home minister of Indian, when a charge sheet was filed against him.

Turning his ire at RSS, he questioned what action has been taken against the outfit, which was apparently involved in terrorism in the country and is accused in many blast cases including Hyderabad, Malegaon and Pune?

“After all your Yatra will entre Mangalore, where minorities have been repeatedly targeted by hardliners. Here Christians were targeted and their places of worship were attacked,” he said.

He also exhorted Adavni to reject the controversial report submitted by Justice B K Somashekara Commission of Inquiry, appointed by the BJP government to probe into the attacks on churches in Karnataka in 2008. The commission had given a clean chit to BJP and Sangh parivar outfits.

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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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