Click to play videoNew Delhi: Former Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Thursday defended himself and said the purchase of aircraft and the Air-India Indian Airlines merger were collective government decisions. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report had earlier slammed the Aviation Ministry for the decisions.
Patel said it was known that finances of airlines is not good enough for acquisition. "Losses got compounded due to delay in acquisition," said Patel.
He also said that it was a conscious policy decision of the government and CCEA approved its sovereign guarantee to buy new aircraft.
Patel also mentioned that the CAG report has to be looked in the right perspective. "CAG has appreciated liberalisation of skies and low fairs, " added Patel.
He said running Air India in public sector was a conscious decision of the Government of India. "Airline with a 20-year-old fleet could have not survived, " said Patel.
In an exclusive interview with CNN-IBN, Patel said issues can be raised by the PAC and answered by the concerned ministry. Patel said, "Why should I take responsibility?"
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