Privileges for MPs at airports will be reviewed: Ashok Gajapathi Raju

NEW DELHI: Following outcry against privileges given to MPs at airports, the aviation ministry is going to review the protocol followed for these elected Maharajas of the sky. Aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that “anything can be reviewed anytime”.

“I will like to understand what is the extra facility or privilege that an MP gets which a frequent flyer does not. If there is any such thing that they get over and above the treatment given to frequent flyers, that can be reviewed,” Raju said.

“The order was issued in 2007, whether rightly or wrongly. I will like to know what extra privileges do elected representatives get (which frequent flyers don’t) and why is it given. If MPs do not get any extra so-called privilege, then it is an unnecessary controversy. Like pre-booking of seats is something that any flyer can do now,“ the senior Andhra politician said.

While the order for treating MPs like royalty at airports was issued during UPA time in 2007 and reiterated by the aviation regulator earlier this year, the controversy erupted in the Modi government last month.

On July 14, the aviation ministry told LS that “instructions have been issued to AAI /(other) airport operators, AI and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security to be courteous towards MPs.“