GoAir accused of denying ticket for speaking Kannada

News Network
September 29, 2017

Bengaluru, Sept 29: The Kannada Development Authority has issued a notice to GoAir, accusing it of denying a ticket to a passenger, who has charged the airline with harassing him for speaking in Kannada at the Kempegowda International Airport.

Balaji Narayana Murthy was among 14 passengers who arrived at the check-in counter of GoAir for their 5.45 am flight to Mumbai on Wednesday. “We were five minutes late to the airport as overnight rain had resulted in slow-moving traffic. In fact, it took us more than 30 minutes from the Trumpet Flyover to the KIA. We explained the delay to a staff and sought help to board the next flight,” Murthy said.

As the staff was not forthcoming even after half an hour, the 14 passengers decided to speak to the manager, who assured them alternative tickets. “When we were at the manager’s counter, I was speaking in Kannada to another passenger. A staffer with GoAir shouted that I can’t speak in Kannada at the airport,” Murthy said.

Murthy said the staffer named Sandeep later issued tickets to 13 passengers but left him out.

“When I asked for my ticket, Sandeep told me I won’t get the ticket as I was speaking in my language. Despite repeated pleas, he refused to help. It was a refundable ticket. Finally, I asked him for a refund which he declined stating that I came beyond the stipulated time. I asked him for a written explanation but it was not given. I felt humiliated but couldn’t do anything,” he added.

‘Swift action must’

Murthy spent Rs 9,000 to buy another ticket for Mumbai. “I sent a mail to GoAir customer care at 7 pm explaining my plight in detail. Till now, I have not received even a reply,” he said.

KDA chief S G Siddaramaiah has written to GoAir seeking action against the staff and an explanation before October 10. 

“I urge you to remove your staff and provide an explanation for the incident. On October 10, I will visit Kempegowda International Airport to review implementation of Kannada. I request you to submit a report explaining the action taken against the staffer concerned,” the letter says.

Noting that no person or organisation has the authority to ask a passenger to stop speaking in their local language, the letter states that it is objectionable to know that a staffer of a responsible organisation has behaved in such a way.

“It is the primary responsibility of all organisations working in Karnataka to respect the language and culture of the land. We need to see whether organisations like GoAir that forget the responsibility can be allowed to function in Karnataka. We need to communicate that Karnataka does not need organisations that do not respect its language,” S G Siddaramaiah has said.

Comments

prakash
 - 
Sunday, 1 Oct 2017

Sandeep looks like a third class person  he should be sacked from the duty immediately before he hurt anybody else, a proper leagal action should be taken against him for the insult he did.

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July 1,2020

Udupi, July 1: In a concerning development, another SSLC student in Udupi district has tested positive for covid-19.

With this the number of covid-19 patients among SSLC students in the coastal district rose to three. All of them are girls.

The fresh case has been reported from Byndoor. She has already written three papers.

She had reportedly developed some of the symptoms and hence her throat swabs were sent for testing on June 30. Today she received positive report, sources said.

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News Network
February 10,2020

Shivamogga/Hubballi, Feb 10: Chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday reiterated portfolios for all new ministers will be distributed on Monday and the exercise was not completed sooner only because of weekend holidays.

“I had completed all the formalities on the portfolio allocation,” Yediyurappa said, appearing to rubbish rumours that the delay was caused due to a tussle over portfolios. “However, considering it was a weekend, I decided to postpone handing them out. On Monday all portfolios will be announced.”

The CM also promised to induct loyalists into his council of ministers, admitting Umesh Katti, Hukkeri legislator, should not have been left out. Speaking in Shivamogga earlier in the day, Yediyurappa said Katti was scheduled to take oath last week along with the 10 defectors, but the decision was scrapped at the last minute due to “unavoidable reasons”. “But I have discussed the issue with Katti. Considering he is from North Karnataka and that we have worked together for many years, he will be included in the cabinet soon,” Yediyurappa said.

When questioned on more prominent legislators from his home district missing out — especially Thirthalli Arag Jnanendra — he said a “different responsibility” has been given to him and has already explained why he could not be inducted.

Yediyurappa refused to react to comments by former chief ministers Siddaramaiah and HD Kumaraswamy on government’s survival, saying he would rather concentrate on the state’s development. “It is common for the opposition to criticize the government, but I’m busy preparing for the budget, which will be presented on March 5. I am concentrating on my work,” he said.

In Davangere, Yediyurappa said he is committed to increasing internal reservation for the Valmiki community under the ST quota from 3% to 7.5%, apart from considering a separate department for the community to address their issues. Speaking at a Valimik community event, Yediyurappa said Justice Nagamohan Das has been asked to submit his report at the earliest to bring in reservation.

In Mysuru, chief minister Yediyurappa’s son and BJP Yuva Morcha general secretary BY Vijayendra on Sunday said the district will get representation in his father’s cabinet soon, pointing to the six existing vacancies. He said former minister AH Vishwanath will be made a minister as Yediyurappa is known for delivering on his promises. Speaking to reporters, he said his father has expanded his council of ministers, ensuring there were no complaints and he will include more legislators given that there are six more vacancies.

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News Network
February 6,2020

New Delhi, Feb 6: BJP MP Tejaswi Surya said on Wednesday that the majority community has to remain vigilant or Mughal rule will return to the country, as he slammed the anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh.

He was participating in the debate on Motion of Thanks on the President's Address in Lok Sabha.

Referring to the ongoing protest at Shaheen Bagh against the Citizenship Amendment Act, he said, "Unless majority community remains vigilant, the days of Mughal Raj may not be far away."

Surya also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for resolving several critical issues which had been pending for several decades.

The CAA, he said, was aimed at resolving the issues emanating from Partition and added, "The new India cannot to built without healing the wounds of the past."

He said that the CAA was about giving citizenship to persecuted minorities in Pakistan, Bangaladesh and Afghanistan and not for taking away anyone's citizenship.

Under the leadership of Modi, Surya said, several issues of the past have seen closure. These include abrogation of Article 370, construction of Ram temple, Bodo problems and abolition of Triple Talaq.

K Sudhakaran (Cong) said that a time when the economy was going through its worst phase and unemployment was high, the President in his speech talked about making India a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024.

On the comments of the government functionaries that fundamentals of the economy are strong, he said the same expression was used by the then US President George Bush, days before the collapse of the America's iconic investment banker Lehman Brothers.

Not only that, Sudhakaran said even before the Great Depression, the then US President used to say that fundamentals of their economy were strong.

Anupriya Patel (Apna Dal) demanded that the government set up All India Judicial Services Commission to ensure representation of the backward community in the judiciary.

Khagen Murmu (BJP) regretted that West Bengal government was not implementing the welfare schemes of the Centre in the state.

Badruddin Ajmal (AIUDF) said that people of all communities have fought for freedom of the country and it would be incorrect to declare everyone opposing the government's policies as 'gaddar' (traitor).

He said that the government should talk to people protesting against the CAA at Shaheen Bagh and other places, and explain the provisions to them.

Shrirang Appa Barne (Shiv Sena) demanded that the ruling party fulfil all promises it had made to the people of the country.

He regretted that although the government promised to double the income of farmers by 2022, farmers were still committing suicide.

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