The Swadesh Jagaran Manch (SJM), has strongly objected the appointment of Ilker Ayci as chief executive of Air India, due to his previous political links in Turkey, with which New Delhi has strained relations.
It urged the Narendra Modi government to block his appointment, keeping in view of national interests and also issues of national security. It asked the government to probe into his background.
It recalled that he was advisor to present Turkish Presidnet Tayyip Erdogan, when the later was the Mayor of Isnabul. However, Ayci, a former chairman of Turkish Airlines, did not answer repeated calls by news agencies on objections raised by SJM.
Tata Group, the Indian conglomerate which announced Ayci’s appointment as CEO of previously state-run Air India after recently taking over the debt-laden airline in a $2.4 billion equity and debt deal, also did not respond.
Announcing Ayci’s appointment, Tata said on February 14, that Ayci was “an aviation industry leader” who would “lead Air India into the new era”. Ayci said in the same statement that he was delighted to lead “an iconic airline”.
Ashwani Mahajan, co-convenor of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, which is seen as having significant influence on Indian policy making, said the government must not approve Ayci’s appointment as Turkey had been sympathetic to India’s rival Pakistan.
Stating that Air India has been a national carrier and it still carries the same importance, he also advised that TATAs should not get clearance for this. It may be recalled that the appointment of a foreign national as CEO of an airline in India requires government clearance before it can proceed.
Government sources also indicated that while checks on a CEO are in most cases a formality, they are more stringent in Air India’s case.
India lodged a diplomatic protest in 2020 after Erdogan said New Delhi’s decision to impose President rule in the Jammu and Kashmir was worsening the situation there and that Turkey stood in solidarity with its people.
