The Ananth Kumar Chat
Civil Aviation Minister Ananth Kumar was both witty and articulate. And he managed to bring around even some chatters initially hostile to him. Excerpts from the chat.
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:23 IST)
Hello, I am glad to be here with all of you today.
Shree (Fri Sep 10 1999 5:17 IST)
Hello Mr Kumar, pls explain why are you opposed to Sonia Gandhi becoming the prime minister?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:24 IST)
Shree: For me, it is an emotional issue. For my countrymen also. We feel a billion strong country can produce its own leadership.
sumali (Fri Sep 10 1999 5:18 IST)
What are your promises to the electorate?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:25 IST)
Sumali: A proud India and a prosperous Karnataka, caring and forward-looking governance.
Karl (Fri Sep 10 1999 5:44 IST)
Mr Kumar do you think the BJP will be relected to power and on what basis would u make the assumption?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:27 IST)
Karl: The general mood of the country is to give a chance for a full term to PM Atal B Vajpayee, who brought us victory in war and prosperity in peace. Even surveys across the country project the same thing.
Mary (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:1 IST)
Mr Kumar, first your government bungled on the Kargil front and today you all are using the blood of soldiers as an election plank?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:30 IST)
Mary: In 1948, when Pak attacked us, we lost one third of Kashmir. In 1962, during the Chinese invasion, we had to retreat. In 1965, we won the war, but lost in Tashkent. In 1971, we won the war, held 94,000 prisoners of war, but in Simla agreement, we gave back everything to Pakistan. In 1999, we won the Kargil war, international support, world acclaim without war taxes, war ration and price rises. Credit for the action goes to the soldiers; for the handling of war, credit goes to the Vajpayee-led government.
Raghu (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:17 IST)
Dear Mr Kumar, Are u in the race of CM of Karnataka?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:31 IST)
Raghu: Our state president B S Yediyurappa has built the party brick by brick. He is our CM candidate.
Naryan Moorthy (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:26 IST)
Mr Kumar: Is it true that you didn't clear the TATA project because of pressures from Jet Airways?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:32 IST)
Narayan Moorthy: Before we could take a decision, the Tatas themselves said tata to the project! We are for the open sky policy. Let them apply again!
Nandita (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:29 IST)
Mr Kumar: PLEASE DON'T BE UPSET BY THIS QUESTION. A report in one of the newspapers said that you used to take away spoons and forks from Centaur Hotel (which is government owned) when you were a minister. How far is this true?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:33 IST)
Nandita: Joke of the year! I am not perturbed. My wife definitely is, because she is a shopoholic.
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:33 IST)
Nandita: She doesn't like Centaur spoons and forks. She buys them from the market.
ManishG (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:35 IST)
Mr Ananth K, What do you think about converting LOC into an international border
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:35 IST)
ManishG: The process of dialogue should continue to resolve the deadlock. Then these things can be addressed.
rumman (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:31 IST)
What about Article 370, Ram temple, common civil code? Are u going to take it up once ur party comes with a majority?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:36 IST)
Rumman: NDA has a national agenda as the poll plank, drawn up by consensus. That is our Bhagavad Gita, Bible and Quran.
Princess (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:27 IST)
Hello Mr Kumar.. wasn't the Janata Dal manoeuvre a double whammy for your party?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:38 IST)
Princess: We are the major party. Last laugh is ours, that is, of the alliance.
hemanth (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:31 IST)
Why the delay in setting up an international airport in Bangalore? I am confused.
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:40 IST)
Hemanth: My predecessor had put it in Trishanku. Now a joint venture is formed, and outstanding issues are resolved. The international airport in Bangalore is soon going to be a reality. Alas, political inevitability, that is general elections, preceded the takeoff of the airport.
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:42 IST)
Kumar: The last 16 months have been riot-free. Misinformation campaign should not substitute for the solid fact about excellent communal harmony in India.
AnandR (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:41 IST)
Karnataka is a state drowning in liquor, both spurious and otherwise. What does your party propose to do about it, if voted to power?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:44 IST)
AnandR : BJP and JD(U) will form the state govt under the joint leadership of Yediyurappa and Hegde. There will be developmental activities that the people of Karnataka will find lucrative.
Nandita (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:41 IST)
Mr Kumar: Can you tell us how did you activate the BJP party in the state? I mean, it was nowhere till 10 years ago. And, today it looks that it is going to capture the state. Comment pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee.
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:45 IST)
Nandita: The crusade is on for farmers and people's problems, and the building up of the organisation brick by brick. It is 99 per cent perspiration and one per cent luck and inspiration!
AnandR (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:45 IST)
You mean the state will have two chief ministers?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:46 IST)
AnandR: The state will definitely have one chief minister with the other's blessings, like Morarji had the blessings of JP.
ManishG (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:41 IST)
BJP has already been an organization-based party, but this time you are going as personality-based (everybody's asked to vote for ABV, not for BJP / NDA). God forbid, if something happens to Mr ABV, Then what will happen to your party (Look at the Congress after Rajiv)?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:47 IST)
ManishG: Vajpayee is the mascot of BJP and NDA. He is the icon of a proud and prosperous India. Personalities merge into icons and national aspirations.
rumman (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:46 IST)
By soft-pedalling the Hinduvta line, don't u think that the BJP will lose the support of the more right wing elements of the Sangh Parivar?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:49 IST)
Rumman : Hindutva has no religious connotation. It has a geocultural connotation. That is nationalism. Pokhran, Agni and Kargill victory have exhibited our nationalistic aspirations.
AnandR (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:48 IST)
Karnataka is a state drowning in liquor, both spurious and otherwise. What does your party propose to do about it, if voted to power?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:50 IST)
AnandR : To educate, to persuade, to regulate and to liberate.
Srinivas (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:44 IST)
Mr Ananth Kumarji. I have met you on many occasions through my father who is a former BJP councillor from BCC. I admire your work. My question is regarding civil aviation in India. Is there a plan to form a aviation safety body to monitor air safety in India. Good Luck in your elections.
Srinivas (USA)
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:52 IST)
Srinivas : Thank you very much. Air safety in India is of global standards. Efforts are on to improve. Safety and user-friendly aviation is the target.
Princess (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:33 IST)
What kind of chief minister do you think Yediyurappa will make?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:53 IST)
Princess : A person who has vibed with the problems of the people out of power will definitely deliver, given a chance.
saha (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:46 IST)
Good evening sir, I would like to know whether privatisation of Indian Airlines is seriously planned?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:55 IST)
Saha: Last budget, a revolutionary decision to disinvest to the tune of 61 per cent of the 100 per cent state-owned IA was taken. Restructuring of Indian Airlines is in the irreversible phase now.
AnandR (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:52 IST)
So who is Morarji and who is JP now?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:55 IST)
Anand R: Please guess!!
Srinivas (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:52 IST)
Mr. Ananth Kumar, Karnataka has been neglected for all these years. Can the BJP promise to provide clean water, electricity, health care and other basics to people.
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:57 IST)
Srinivas : Karnataka was the model Mysore state under Sir M Visweswarayya, and it has fallen into an abyss in the last 50 years of misrule. We have natural human and scientific resources. And the BJP has the leadership and will to harness them so that Karnataka will regain its lost glory.
ManishG (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:51 IST)
Mr Ananth , Why are Indian airports the worst in the whole world?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 6:58 IST)
ManishG: Infrastructure is good, maintenance requires improvement and management should be more efficient. Give us a full term and we will be landing at world class airports.
Rajaram (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:59 IST)
Mr Kumar: The Congress is claiming that the BJP government took bribes and purchased second-hand and third-rate aircraft. How far is this true?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 7:2 IST)
Rajaram : It is really saddening that we did not purchase a single aircraft in the last 16 months. Oh, you are talking about the bribes given to previous governments? Must be probed....
raghu (Fri Sep 10 1999 7:2 IST)
Kumar, namaste and all the best in the elections. Hope the next govt. in centre and state will be a BJP one and can make the 22nd century a BHARATIYA one.
Raghu
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 7:3 IST)
Raghu: You are really optimistic and futuristic. One century ahead. Your dreams will be on my epitaph.
saha (Fri Sep 10 1999 7:5 IST)
Sir, now that it is almost certain that BJP will form the next government, do you propose to buy new airplanes for Air-India and Indian Airlines which are badly in need of fleet augmentation and will not be able to survive if it is not done immediately.
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 7:7 IST)
Saha: For one billion people, we have only 80 aircraft flying across the country. We need more, and the decision and the choice of aircraft will be left to the airlines.
raghu (Fri Sep 10 1999 7:8 IST)
Kumar, Sorry, I meant 21st and not 22nd. What are the real chances in Bellary?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 7:10 IST)
Raghu: The people of Bellary have been saying, "Sushma to Delhi and Sonia to Italy."
Infinite Kumar (Fri Sep 10 1999 7:5 IST)
Air Traffic Controllers have chilling tales about the state of radars, equipment, etc at their towers. Charki Dadri, one is led to believe, can happen any day in India. Comment please.
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 7:9 IST)
Infinite Kumar: Charki Dadri happened because the aircraft had no ACAS. Now it is mandatory in every aircraft. You are welcome to a very safe flight in Indian skies.
HP (Fri Sep 10 1999 7:10 IST)
Please be frank.... Is BJP is the same as the one it was in 1990?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 7:12 IST)
HP: Change is life. And we believe in evolution. Now we are an evolved party, physically and politically.
common man (Fri Sep 10 1999 6:57 IST)
Mr Ananth Kumar: What happens to BJP after Vajpayeeji. I mean nobody in India is going to trust that man from Sind, neither the man who is contesting from Allahabad. So, BJP is finished after Vajpayee. Also, there is no second rung leadership in the party, isn't it? PLEASE BE HONEST.
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 7:1 IST)
Common Man: Your misgiving is totally misplaced. Both of them have been shouldering Vajpayee's victory. We are a only party which has not only second-rung but rungs to eternity.
Infinite Kumar (Fri Sep 10 1999 7:3 IST)
All your predecessors -- Scindia, Azad, Ibrahim -- were out of the CA ministry in an unceremonious manner. How come a relatively little-known gentleman like you have proved the Great Survivor?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 7:13 IST)
Infinite Kumar: Men may come and men may go, but the system goes on.
raghu (Fri Sep 10 1999 7:12 IST)
Is it true that you are in the running for CM if BJP wins a majority?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 7:13 IST)
Raghu: Our leader Yediyurappaji will be definitely be the CM, and my vote is definitely for him.
srihari (Fri Sep 10 1999 7:23 IST)
If you guys come to power will you put all the accused in the Bofors scam into jail?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 7:26 IST)
Srihari: When people get indicted for a scam, jail is the only abode for them. In India, law and justice take their own course, that is, they will put the wrongdoers into prison.
JaiHind (Fri Sep 10 1999 7:14 IST)
Ananthji, What message would like to send to NRI's willing to come back to Bharat?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 7:17 IST)
Jaihind : Api swarnamayee Lanka, Name Lakshmana rochathe Janani janmabhoomishcha Swargadapi gariyasee.
Oh Lakshmana, I am not enamoured by glittering golden Lanka, my mother and motherland are more exalted than the heaven. Thus said Lord Rama.
Infinite Kumar (Fri Sep 10 1999 7:14 IST)
Ok, you seem to be very articulate, I'm very, very impressed sir. Sir, tell me, how much have you learnt about the aviation industry, the finer details, I mean. When you started, I presume, your ken about CA must have been very thin... :)))
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 7:18 IST)
Infinite Kumar: Thin?! I had no inkling of it! But friends like you made me learn to fly to new horizons.
rumman (Fri Sep 10 1999 7:13 IST)
What do u have to say about the below-the-belt comments that some of ur colleagues have made against Sonia, especially Pramod Mahajan and George Fernandes?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 7:15 IST)
Rumman: There should not be personalised comments. We should consciously put our efforts to upgrade the level of political campaigning.
Infinite Kumar (Fri Sep 10 1999 7:27 IST)
OK, Indian skies for Indian fliers only. Fair enough. But what if the next govt, if it's a Congress one, decide otherwise? Don't you think industry has to be taken into confidence while adopting such rigid postures?
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 7:20 IST)
Infinite Kumar: When we want global standards, global companies, we should adopt global principles also. That is, Indian skies for Indian fliers only.
ManishG (Fri Sep 10 1999 7:13 IST)
Mr Ananth, Whenever I go to India, I reach Delhi after 10.30 in the night. After that I have to wait until next morning to get the flight to Lucknow, While coming to US, I usually reach JFK by 1.30 pm and get the connection within 3-4 hrs, Why can't the same thing happen in India? Either all international flights should reach by 4-5 pm, or we should get the connecting flight to all state capitals all night long ....
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 7:22 IST)
ManishG: This happens because of the night curfew in Europe and inadequate connectivity in India. We are trying to sort this out through hub and spoke, and code-share arrangements.
raghu (Fri Sep 10 1999 7:19 IST)
Following on ManishG's question, I know that the European's do not allow any flights to land or take off at night. This is one reason flights from US land and take off at odd hours in India. Can your ministry do something about this and have a normal schedule for international flights from India also?
The terminal in Mumbai (specially the private airlines) is horrible. There are not enough seats and all international flights arrive at the same time. Why can't this be arranged so that the passengers have some comfort after a long international flight? Raghu
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 7:24 IST)
Raghu : Terminal 2C with 16 aerobridges is ready. But, due to your bad luck, elections came along. Upgradation of private domestic terminal is on the anvil. Please vote positively. Stop our plight. We will take care of your flight!
Mr Ananth Kumar(Fri Sep 10 1999 7:28 IST)
Well, everyone, the 19th century became Europe's century. This century is the USA's. The 21st century can be ours, India's, if we all rededicate ourselves to this cause. Jai Hind. I must leave now...
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