CMD Jadhav is the bone of contention

On day 9 of AI pilots' strike, no consensus between agitators and management over chairman's fate, pilots complain that minister is fence-sitting

Air India Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav appears to have become the prime bone of contention in the stalemate between the Civil Aviation Ministry and the agitating pilots.u00a0The deadlock remained firmly in place on the ninth day of the strike, owing to disagreements over whether to sack the CMD or not. While the management is not ready to sack Jadhav, crusading pilots are unwilling to compromise on this.
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A senior pilot said on condition of anonymity, "The management has been speaking to us. But we remain firm on our demands that the tainted CMD be sacked, because under him the carrier's already faltering condition nosedived for the worse. We will give this issue its due importance in all the meetings which have been scheduled for the next few days." "We want Air India to be restored to its earlier presrtgie. But in order to regain that we need an able and honest leader. Remove Jadhav and bring an efficient person on board," added the pilot.

'Fence-sitting'
A top Air India official said, "Even the Union Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi, who at the point of joining his office promised to restore the national carrier to its past glory, seems to be its past glory, seems to beu00a0u00a0u00a0 unwilling to embroil himself in the controversy. Hence he is referring all the queries to the CMD." Speaking exclusively with MiD DAY, Ravi said, "I don't have any comments on the matter, please speak to the chairman, he will respond to your queries."

This reporter asked Ravi why he was refraining from intervening in the matter, informing him that the pilots had reposed great faith in his ability to resolve the issue. "I am not aware of any such statements from the pilots. Ask Jadhav what you have to ask," he said.u00a0Union Civil Aviation Secretary Naseem Zaidi, who is playing a prominent role in reaching a compromise between the disputing parties, told MiD DAY, "I cannot delineate the specific issues discussed in the meeting. Another meeting will take place on Friday, where we hope to resolve the issue."u00a0 However he refrained from making any remark on the issue of sacking Jadhav. Sources close to the Ministry said that it was putting pressure on the CMD to effect a solution at the earliest. Despite repeated calls, Jadhav was not available for comment.

Negotiation
An Air India spokespersonu00a0 said that negotiations were underway on five prominent issues, that the pilots had been asked to submit a written statement promising that they would call off the strike unconditionally, and would not indulge in any such illegal acts in the future.u00a0The pilots had also been asked to agree to the condition that all decisions related to termination and suspension would be taken two weeks after the strike was called off.

Rs 26 cru00a0 The amount of losses Air India is suffering per day because of the stir

95 The approximate number of AI flights cancelled yesterday

Divided fortress
The ninth day of the strike witnessed a split within the pilot union, with a senior ICPA pilot, at the forefront of the agitations, allegedly holding a secret meeting with Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav. "It is good that he showed his true colours so early. He could have caused greater damage at a later stage," one of the agitating pilots told MiD DAY.