For farmers' sake, MPs want liquor on flights

NEW DELHI: Flying on the domestic sector may soon take passengers to a new high. At least three MPs, who are part of the consultative committee attached to the aviation ministry, on Wednesday joined the chorus seeking a go-ahead for airlines to serve Indian wine and beer on domestic flights.

With MPs making the case to "help vineyard farmers", Aviation Minister Praful Patel, whose party (NCP) is part of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra, agreed to consider the demand as there was no opposition at the meeting.

Among those present at the meeting were Nehru-Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi, Rajeev Shukla, Deepinder Hooda, M S Gill, Santosh Bagrodia and Tarlochan Singh.

Liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who had earlier raised the demand for allowing alcohol on domestic flights, is also a member of the committee but was not present on Wednesday.

Mallya, whose company, Kingfisher, runs an airline and is the biggest player in the spirits business, is an independent Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka.

Former CEC and now a Congress Rajya Sabha MP, M S Gill, told TOI : "Members from Maharashtra raised the issue saying the government should consider allowing Indian wine on domestic flights in the interest of horticulture farmers. Wine-making is a great Indian industry and should be promoted. Agreeing with the argument, I also supported the demand."

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com