Kingfisher employees for Mallya prosecution

New Delhi, March 20: Employees of Kingfisher Airlines, who have not been paid salary for the past several months, today asked the government to prosecute promoter Vijay Mallya and threatened to disrupt IPL matches.

"If Gopal Kanda, promoter of MDLR airlines, can be prosecuted for the suicide of an employee, why can't the government prosecute Vijay Mallya for the suicide of family members of his employees," said Santosh Gautam, president of Kingfisher Airlines Maintenance Association.

They also threatened to disrupt IPL matches of the Royal Challenger Bangalore, the team owned by Mallya.

"Last time, when the Formula 1 race was being organised here, afraid of our protests, the airline management paid our salary of one month and assured to pay the dues in instalments but they have failed to keep their promises. This time, we will protest outside the venue wherever the team plays its matches," said S.C. Mishra, another employee.

The protesting employees have urged the players to boycott Mallya's team. They have also asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) not to allow Royal Challenger Bangalore to participate in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL).
The employees asked the government to amend labour laws making non-payment of salaries a criminal offence and said the Supreme Court should take suo-moto cognisance of the matter.
Seeking an early intervention on the issue, the employees have written letters to the President, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, civil aviation minister Ajit Singh and director-general of civil aviation Arun Mishra.
The Vijay Mallya-owned cash-strapped airline is grounded since October last year following unrest by employees over non-payment of salaries and subsequent disruption in its flight schedules.
The Standard Operator's Permit or flying licence of the airline expired on December 31, 2012 and the civil aviation regulator had refused to renew it, saying they would have to first clear the dues of their employees and other stakeholders.
Kingfisher Airlines owes more than Rs 8,000 crore to a consortium of 17 banks.
JEEUTIKA SINHA.
PGDM 2nd sem