E K Bharat Bhushan's removal administrative decision: Ajit Singh

BANGALORE: Breaking his silence on the abrupt removal of E K Bharat Bhushan as DGCA, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh today said it was a "simple administrative decision" and "there is no rift among UPA partners" on the issue.

"That's a simple administrative decision and that's not something you discuss", Singh told reporters in reply to a question in his first comments on the episode.

He said he has seen all kinds of comments in newspapers and television on the issue and termed them as "speculative".

"There is no rift among UPA partners (over the issue). It has no political implications. It's simply administrative. Some procedures were not followed properly (about giving him extension). That's why it was done", the Minister said.

"It has nothing to do with Bharat Bhushan...he is a good officer or bad officer or Kingfisher. No Kingfisher investigation was going on. If there was an investigation, first thing is you have to call the management. Have you seen that anywhere?", he said.

In an abrupt move last Tuesday, Bharat Bhushan was removed as DGCA and Prashant Sukul, a Joint Secretary in Civil Aviation Ministry, was given the additional charge as DGCA chief.

Bhushan's removal came six days after the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet had approved the extension of his term till this December.