News Analysis India

Tag: Jyotiraditya Scindia

  • Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurates first direct flight between Gwalior, Indore

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday inaugurated the first direct flight between Gwalior and Indore.

    He virtually flagged off two flights strengthening the international and domestic aerial connectivity of Madhya Pradesh.

    According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the event marked the commencement of Indigo’s new direct flights on the Gwalior – Indore – Delhi route and the resumption of Air India’s Indore – Dubai.

    Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh graced the event virtually from Bhopal.

    Speaking on the occasion, Scindia said, “The establishment of direct flight connectivity on the Indore – Gwalior – Delhi route aligns with the objectives of the Sab Uden Sab Juden initiative of the Government of India. With the aerial connectivity of the two cities of Madhya Pradesh with immense potential, new opportunities will get a boost in sectors of trade and tourism.”

    Air India currently operates flights from/to Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Bilaspur to various destinations within India.

    On the international route, Air India has been operating a direct flight from Indore to Dubai since 2019, which is recommencing now with this non-stop connection.

    Scindia further informed that in the last 53 days, Madhya Pradesh got 58 new flights and with 314 new aircraft movements the number of aircraft movements in the state has increased from 424 to 738.

    “Indore which was earlier connected to eight cities, has now been connected to 13 cities. In a similar way, aerial connectivity of Gwalior has expanded from four to six cities,” he added.

    Several other union ministers, BJP leaders, senior officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India (AAI) participated in the virtual inauguration session from New Delhi and Gwalior.

    Gwalior is known for its beautiful forts, temples, tomb, museum and palaces. The increased accessibility will not only enhance tourism but also promote trade and commerce in the region. 

  • Air taxis will be possible in coming days under drone rules: Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Air taxis that will traverse the airspace instead of roads will be very much possible in the coming days under the drone rules announced on Thursday, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said.

    “Air taxis are being researched and invented globally and many startups are coming up,” the minister said during a press conference here.

    “That time is not far when taxis, like the ones of Uber etc that you see on roads, you will see in the air under the drone policy. I believe this is very much possible,” he added.

    The minister said that the Defence Ministry, the Home Ministry and BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) have been working together so that “counter rogue drone technology” can be developed and adopted quickly.

    In a notification dated August 25, the Ministry of Civil Aviation eased the rules regarding drone operations in the country by reducing the number of forms that need to be filled to operate them from 25 to 5 and decreasing the types of fees charged from the operator from 72 to 4.

  • Jyotiraditya Scindia’s exit from Madhya Pradesh Congress ended groupism: Jaivardhan Singh

    By PTI

    GWALIOR: Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Jaivardhan Singh on Wednesday said factionalism in the state unit of the party ended after the exit of Jyotiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP last year and recently made a Union minister.

    Singh, son of Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh, also claimed Scindia’s entry into the BJP has led to the creation of three factions in the state BJP unit.

    Scindia, a former MP from Guna, joined the BJP in March 2020.

    After his exit, several MLAs also quit the party, resulting in the collapse of the then Congress government led by Kamal Nath.

    Scindia was made Civil Aviation Minister in the recent expansion of the Union cabinet.

    “There was groupism in the Congress till Scindia was there. Now it has ended. But Scindia’s entry in the BJP has led to the creation of three groups- ‘Shivraj BJP’, ‘Maharaj BJP’ and ‘Naraz BJP’, ‘Jaivardhan Singh, a former minister, told reporters.

    He was apparently referring to BJP leaders loyal to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and those loyal to Scindia, whom his supporters address as “Maharaj” because of his royal background.

    The ‘Naraz’ dig apparently meant those leaders of BJP who are not happy with Scindia joining the saffron party.

    Jaivardhan Singh will visit various areas in the Gwalior and Chambal divisions which were hit by floods triggered by heavy rains earlier this month.

    “Congress is now free of this disease of groupism in Madhya Pradesh,” he claimed.

    He also criticised BJP leaders whose photos were printed on the bags meant for the distribution of free ration.

    “When people of the region were facing hardships due to floods, members of the ruling party were celebrating ‘anna utsav’ even though this scheme was originally launched by the Congress-led UPA government,” he said.

    “One day these BJP leaders will get their photos printed on food grains as well,” Jaivardhan Singh quipped.

    When asked about communal tension in the Malwa region, the Raghogarh MLA said the government should take action impartially.

    “There are many problems in Madhya Pradesh other than this (communal strife) such as unemployment, lack of health infrastructure to deal with COVID-19, inflation etc. The pace of vaccination needs to be expedited. The government should focus on these issues and resolve them,” he said.

    Replying to a query on some BJP leaders terming his father Digvijaya Singh ‘Talibani,’ he said the way BJP leaders including Vishvash Sarang, a minister, and MLA Rameshwar Sharma are giving unnecessary statements, it reduces their seriousness.

    He said conducting a caste-based Census is necessary and the government should think about it.

  • Cops look for owner of painted horse seen at Scindia’s rally after receiving complaint

    By PTI

    INDORE: Indore Police in Madhya Pradesh are searching for the owner of a horse which was painted in the BJP’s flag colors and paraded during Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia’s `Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ after receiving a complaint from an animal welfare NGO.

    Incidentally, the founder of the complainant NGO, People For Animal, is BJP MP Maneka Gandhi.

    The horse, which also had the word `BJP’ in English and party symbol lotus painted on its body, was seen walking alongside Scindia’s `rath’ (decorated van) during the event on Thursday.

    Subsequently, Indore unit chief of the People For Animal Priyanshu Jain approached Sanyogitaganj police station here, seeking the registration of an FIR under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

    Painting and parading an animal in this way amounted to cruelty, the complaint said.

    “We have started an inquiry. We are looking for the owner of the horse,” police inspector Rajeev Tripathi said, adding that no First Information Report has been registered yet.

    Scindia, newly inducted in the Union cabinet, had taken out a three-day Jan Ashirwad Yatra (tour) which ended in Indore on Thursday.

  • BJP’s ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ runs into controversies in MP

    Express News Service

    BHOPAL: The ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ by the ruling BJP — an event aimed at connecting newly-inducted 39 Union ministers — has run into twin controversies in Madhya Pradesh’s saffron citadel Indore.

    The last leg of the three-days yatra in the state’s Malwa-Nimar region, saw Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia connect with people and seek their blessings in the city.

    But the event ran into not just one, but twin controversies.

    In the first incident, senior BJP leader Govind Maloo was pushed away by on-duty cops while he tried to enter the venue of Scindia’s Jan Ashirwad Yatra in the Indore III assembly segment. The constituency is represented by BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya’s son Akash Vijayvargiya.

    The video of the incident not only embarrassed the ruling BJP but also gave the opposition Congress the ideal opportunity to take potshots at the ruling party.

    Senior state Congress leaders, KK Mishra and Narendra Saluja tweeted the video of the incident, saying, “This incident marks the beginning of a feudal era in BJP’s politics, where gaddars (traitors) are being worshipped, while loyalists are being humiliated.”

    ALSO READ | Message of CM face from ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ of Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav

    Even before the controversy could die down, another row erupted over the use of a rented horse having been painted in BJP colours, being used at the same political event. The pictures of the horse having been painted in BJP colours and also bearing the image of the party’s poll symbol Lotus, forming part of Scindia’s procession went viral.

    Irked over the incident, BJP MP Maneka Gandhi-headed animal rights NGO ‘People for Animals’ (PFA) local representative Priyanshu Jain submitted a complaint at Indore’s Sanyogitaganj police station.

    In the complaint, the PFA representative demanded lodging of FIR under provisions of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, but no case has yet been registered by the police.

    According to informed sources in the BJP, the horse painted in the party’s colours and poll symbol was brought by ex municipal councilor Ramdas Garg and formed part of the procession in Chhawani area.

    Importantly, in its drive to reach out to the last person, the BJP has embarked upon its Jan Ashirwad Yatra, under which the newly inducted 39 union ministers are connecting with the people and seeking their Ashirwad (Blessings).

    The country’s new civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia led the yatra between August 17 and 19 in Dewas, Shajapur, Khargone, and Indore districts of MP’s Malwa-Nimar region.

  • Air India disinvestment is on track: Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia

    By PTI

    INDORE: Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday said the disinvestment process of national carrier Air India was on the “right track”.

    “The disinvestment process of Air India is on the right track. For this the financial bids should come in by September 15 and after that the next move would be initiated,” he told reporters here.

    Scindia, who was recently inducted in the Union cabinet, also said a “blueprint” of rules for operating drones had been prepared after discussions with the Defense and Home Ministries.

    As in the case of bigger aircraft, flying paths for drones would be set up and people would be allowed to fly drones in specified areas with the help of software, the minister said.

    Drones would also be registered and their flyers would be issued licenses, he added.

    Air services in the country are being democratized under the UDAN project, and efforts are on to achieve the target of putting in place 1,000 airways and 100 airports by 2025, Scindia said.

    The air traffic to and from Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, his home state, was increasing, he said.

    The number of flights from these places would go up to 738 from 424 from September 1, the minister added.

    An expansion plan of Indore’s Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport to enable operations of big aircraft from there has been drawn up, under which 2,300 acres of land has been sought from the state government, Scindia said.

    To a question, he said the Indore-Dubai flight service, grounded due to the COVID-19 outbreak, would resume after getting a go-ahead from Indian and United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities.

  • Working under CM Shivraj Chouhan’s leadership to win next Madhya Pradesh polls: Jyotiraditya Scindia

    By PTI

    INDORE: Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday said “all BJP leaders” were working under Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s leadership to win the next Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh. His statement came amid speculation over who would be the BJP’s face for the next assembly elections.

    “As far as 2023 elections are concerned, all BJP leaders are working under the leadership of chief minister Chouhan. I believe that with his governance, the state would scale new heights of development,” said Scindia, recently inducted in the Union cabinet as civil aviation minister.

    Chouhan worked every day in public interest when coronavirus cases surged and also during the recent floods in Gwalior and Chambal regions, the former Congress leader told reporters here. On efforts to evacuate people from Afghanistan, Scindia said they will continue till the last stranded person is brought home safely.

    The Indian government is capable of bringing home all those with valid visas, he added.

    Blaming the previous UPA government for skyrocketing fuel prices, Scindia said, “This party (Congress) mortgaged India to foreign forces in 70 years, due to which the country could not become self-reliant in raw fuel production. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Indian oil companies are focusing on exploring raw fuel reserves to become self-reliant in production”

    He also accused the opposition of trying to “stifle democratic process and destroy the temple of democracy” during the monsoon session of Parliament.

    Asked why BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya was not seen with him during his three-day Jan Ashirwad Yatra in the state, Scindia said reporters were “looking for juicy stuff”, but he has had a “very cordial relationship” with the senior leader for the last 20 years. “Before the start of the Yatra, he handed me a bouquet of flowers at the Indore Airport,” Scindia added.

  • Centre aims to make air travel affordable for common man: Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia

    By PTI

    INDORE: Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday said the central government aimed to provide an affordable air travel facility, which even a person “wearing slippers” could avail.

    As part of the domestic civil aviation sector’s expansion in the past four years, new airports have been opened in many smaller cities and air services started on new routes, connecting these places with big cities, Scindia told reporters here in Madhya Pradesh.

    “We want to provide an affordable air travel facility to the common people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has time and again said this facility should be such that even a person wearing ‘hawai chappal’ (slippers) can travel by air. We, in India, have the full potential to make it a reality,” the minister said.

    He said the government was making efforts towards expansion of the air services with a view to provide air travel facilities to more and more common people in the coming decade. Meanwhile, Scindia flagged off nine trucks carrying relief material, including ration and clothes, for people in Sheopur, one of the worst flood-affected districts in the state following heavy rains recently.

    The Indore Municipal Corporation arranged for this relief material, according to officials.

    Scindia, who was given charge of the civil aviation ministry after his induction into the Modi-led Union cabinet last month, started a three-day ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ from Tuesday in the Malwa and Nimar regions of western MP to reach out to people.

    His tour will end in Indore on Thursday.

  • Congress concerned with welfare of only one family: Jyotiraditya Scindia

    Under Modi #39;s leadership, the country is successfully curbing the spread of coronavirus, he said.

  • Scindia writes to Ashwini Vaishnaw over deplorable condition of Railway Hockey Stadium in Gwalior

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has written to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw drawing his attention towards the deplorable condition of the Railway Hockey Stadium in Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh and requested him to make necessary renovations.

    In the letter posted on Twitter, Scindia said, “I would like to bring your kind attention towards deplorable condition of Railway Hockey Stadium at Tansen Road, Gwalior. In the absence of proper maintenance, the Astro-Turf has depleted resulting in unplayable condition. The Astro-Turf requires to be replaced along with renovation of other facilities such as changing room/wash room.”

    “You are requested to instruct the concerned to examine and initiate necessary steps in the matter,” Scindia wrote to Vaishnaw.

    The railway minister responded to Scindia on Twitter and said that renovations of the stadium have started recently and will be completed in the next few months.