New Delhi: IndiGo on Tuesday announced that it was suspending comedian Kunal Kumra from flying on the airlines for six months.
The airline also advised passengers to avoid “personal slander” of other passengers.
Hereby, we wish to advise our passengers to refrain from indulging in personal slander whilst onboard, as this can potentially compromise the safety of fellow passengers. 2/2@MoCA_GoI @HardeepSPuri
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) January 28, 2020
The announcement came in the aftermath of Kamra sharing a video where he is seen having a one-sided conversation with journalist Arnab Goswami on a flight.
In the video, Kamra remains unseen and his voice is heard berating Goswami for his stance on various political issues. Among other things, he calls him a “coward” and mimics Goswami’s style of speaking in the video.
I did this for my hero…
I did it for Rohit pic.twitter.com/aMSdiTanHo— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 28, 2020
Although Goswami does not react or acknowledge him in the course of the video, Kamra uploaded a statement on Twitter which says he called the comedian “mentally unstable.”
In the statement, Kamra also said he delivered the monologue at Goswami when the seat belt signs were off and that when it came to inconveniencing fellow passengers, he apologises to “every passengers except one.”
His statement and the video’s caption mentions Rohith Vemula, the Dalit Hyderabad University scholar who took his own life in 2016, triggering a nationwide protest movement against the Modi government.
*My Statement* pic.twitter.com/cxFcSCq0Jf
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 28, 2020
Kamra has tweeted several times on the issue. Reacting to the IndiGo ban, he wrote that a six-month suspension was “very kind” and sought to bring up the fate of Air India.
Thank you Indigo a six month suspension is honestly very kind of you…
Modiji might be suspending Air India forever. https://t.co/ari4erSE5F— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 28, 2020
Tharoor says Arnab’s reporters did same to him on two flights
While Kamra has been criticised by both supporters of the Republic TV anchor as well as detractors, the comedian’s action drew public praise from the Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who tweeted that Republic TV’s reporters had twice accosted him during flights:
Minister wants total flight ban on Kamra
Union minister for civil aviation, Hardeep Singh Puri, whom IndiGo had tagged in its tweets with the announcement has asked other airlines to impose similar restrictions on Kamra.
Offensive behaviour designed to provoke & create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable & endangers safety of air travellers.
We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned. https://t.co/UHKKZfdTVS
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 28, 2020
The minister’s swift intervention led some to question why the government had overlooked earlier instances of disruptions, on flight or off. The commentator Dhruv Rathee posted a video clip of a Times Now journalist getting up from her seat on a flight and going up to where RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was seated in order to extract an “exclusive” interview.
Journalist Swati Chaturvedi raised the issue of BJP MP Pragya Thakur refusing to cooperate with in-fight crew on a matter of flight safety, leading to a delay in departure and ager among her co-passengers.
Hello Mr. Puri,
Does this behavior also qualify as disturbing?
Or are your rules not applicable for media houses which are sold out to your government? pic.twitter.com/dzvRo7btj2— Dhruv Rathee (@dhruv_rathee) January 28, 2020
Mr Puri, I am extremely impressed with your swift action. Just wondering why no action was taken against terror accused, MP from your party Pragaya Thakur Singh? She disrupted a flight https://t.co/7cywS1d8eI
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) January 28, 2020
Are you also taking action against this Republic TV reporter? https://t.co/46I81zmgcm
— Salil Tripathi سلیل تریپاٹھی સલિલ ત્રિપાઠી (@saliltripathi) January 28, 2020