Signs of thaw,AI to take back sacked pilots

The 16-day-old strike by a section of Air India pilots may be headed for a resolution.

The 16-day-old strike by a section of Air India pilots may be headed for a resolution as the airline today took back a sacked pilot even as Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh assured that there was no bar on taking back the remaining hundred,including union leaders.

The airline would follow its procedures for taking back sacked employees, Singh said,adding that they would not be vindictive. About the sacked union leaders,Singh said: They are also pilots.

At a press conference earlier in the day,the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) had reiterated that either all the

striking pilots should be taken back or none would join. An IPG leader told The Indian Express that they were open to the ministers suggestion,but wanted an assurance on their demands.

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Singh,however,stressed that there would be no precondition to talks. We have said Take back strike and we will talk, he said,soon after the Delhi High Court issued contempt notices to the IPG,which led the agitation,and 67 protesting pilots for disobeying its order that termed the strike illegal. The IPG has to respond by July 13.

Responding to the mismanagement charges levelled by the IPG earlier in the day,Singh said: Any credible complaint of corruption would be enquired into. IPG had accused that the airline had entered into loss-making lease agreements,costing the company Rs 1,385 crore.

The IPG also demanded that the government revoke the de-recognition of the guild.