New aviation minister promises transparency

The new Minister of State for Civil Aviation Rajiv Pratap Rudy said on Monday that he favoured transparency in the functioning of his ministry. He also said he would follow the blueprint of his predecessor Syed Shahnawaz Hussain.

Rudy, who has been given independent charge of the ministry, said a lot needs to be done in the domestic aviation sector and he was open to innovations. He added that security would be the chief concern of the ministry.

"My prime challenge is to come up to the expectations of the prime minister, the deputy prime minister and the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) president who have reposed faith in me and bestowed this heavy responsibility," Rudy said.

Praising Hussain, Rudy said he had "performed very well" and had been elevated for his work.

The minister refused to comment on issues like ground handling, privatisation and the latest incident of a CISF constable shooting his superior.

He said his knowledge was that of an ordinary passenger and that he would need some time to get into the technicalities.

On the question that the civil aviation ministry had four ministers in four years, he said that there has, however, been no change in policy, which is decided upon by the prime minister and the government.

He said that not much should be read into the fact that his wife, who was a senior executive in Alliance Air, applying for long leave.

She wanted to take some time off for her children and her decision had nothing to do with his taking over the ministry, Rudy said.