Union aviation minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on May 15 said that national interest and public safety are paramount and non-negotiable and that "nothing is above the security of our nation and our fellow citizens."
Naidu's comments came in the backdrop of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security on May 15 revoking the security clearance for Turkish ground handling agency Celebi Airport Services India with immediate effect 'in the interest of national security. Celebi Airport Services India is a subsidiaries of Çelebi Aviation Holding, a Turkish company.
The aviation minister while standing by the BCAS' decision to revoke Celebi's security clearance added that the Ministry of Civil Aviation is fully committed to ensuring that passenger convenience, cargo operations, and service continuity remain unaffected.
"Arrangements have been made at all affected airports to ensure seamless handling of passengers and cargo," Naidu said in a statement.
Naidu also said that he is personally monitoring the situation and that MoCA is in active coordination with airport operators to manage the transition smoothly. The minister of civil aviation also said that efforts are being made to ensure that employees working with Celebi are retained and continue to contribute.
“We are also deploying special teams to oversee operations and address any emerging issues in real time. We will continue to uphold national security while ensuring ease of travel and cargo movement across the country,” Naidu said in a statement.
The minister's comments come just hours after he visited Srinagar on May 15 and said that "flight operations from Srinagar have now been fully restored to pre-incident levels from today."
“Visited Srinagar Airport Thursday to review ongoing development work and personally interacted with the dedicated airport staff. In the aftermath of the unfortunate Pahalgam attack, I deeply appreciated the dedication and composure shown by the airport team. The coordination with security forces and J&K Police ensured that passengers could travel safely without panic or disruption. Rescue operations and the support extended at the airport were executed with great care and professionalism. I’m also pleased to share that flight operations from Srinagar have now been fully restored to pre-incident levels from today.Our commitment remains strong, to ensure safe skies and resilient infrastructure for every passenger,” Naidu said in a post on X.
Naidu, who visited Srinagar to assess the situation, reviewed operations at Srinagar airport, which resumed services on May 14 after hostilities between India and Pakistan were suspended. The minister also visited Polo View market in the city centre to engage directly with local residents and business owners affected by the recent events.
"I wanted to visit places outside the airport as well. So, I went to the Polo View market and interacted with the locals. They are worried about the harm tourism has suffered. Tourism has ebbed after the incident (Pahalgam attack) and we have to work to revive it," Naidu told reporters.
Naidu also said the MoCA would extend all possible support to aid the revival of tourism in the region. "We will provide whatever support is required from the civil aviation ministry. We are working under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has taken Kashmir forward with a vision and people have benefited from it," he said.
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