Turkish citizen Ilkar Ayji turned down the offer to become the CEO and Managing Director of Air India
Turkish national Ilkar Aij said on Tuesday that he has turned down an offer to become the chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director of Tata group company Air India.
The IG said that his appointment was unfairly given an undesirable color by some sections of the Indian media, due to which he took this decision.
Tata Sons had on February 14 announced the appointment of former Turkish Airlines chief Ilkar AG as CEO and Managing Director of its airline Air India. The IG said in a statement, “I have been watching closely the reports that have attempted to give an undesirable color to my appointment in certain sections of the Indian media since the announcement.” He further said, ‘The happiness and well being of the family is above all for me. I have come to the conclusion that it will not be a feasible or an honorable decision for me to accept this post amid such reports.
IG said that he is grateful to the Tata Group and its chairman N Chandrasekaran for giving him the opportunity to lead Air India. Tata Sons did not respond to his request for a response on this decision. The Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), had said on Friday that the government was looking to appoint Ilkar IG as CEO and Managing Director (MD) of Air India “keeping national security in mind”. should not be allowed.
Swadeshi Jagran Manch co-convenor Ashwini Mahajan had said the government was “already sensitive” to the issue and took the matter “very seriously”. When asked why the SJM was opposing the newly appointed CEO and MD, Mahajan reiterated that it was a matter of national security.
Ashwini Mahajan said, “The aviation industry cannot be clubbed with a single chips manufacturer. This is a matter of national security. We must be very careful. His relationship with current Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a matter of concern and should be thoroughly investigated before any decision is reached.
A government official said the Tata group had given its submission to the civil aviation ministry for IG’s approval and the file was sent to the home ministry for security clearance. Amid mounting protests over the appointment of IG, the ministry had indicated its intention to conduct a background check on him.
It is to be known that earlier the Ministry of Home Affairs had said that Ilkar, the newly appointed Managing Director and CEO of Air India, which is controlled by the Tata Group, will conduct a detailed examination of the background of IG.
The source in the ministry had said that as per the established tradition, background checks of all foreign nationals who are appointed to important posts in India are done and in the case of IG also this tradition will be discharged with utmost devotion.
Let us tell you that in October, Tata Sons won the bid for the debt-ridden Air India of Rs 18,000 crore. Ayji has also served as an advisor to the current Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan used to be the mayor of Istanbul during this period of 1994-98. IG was the chairman of Turkish Airlines from 2015 to early 2022. He is credited with transforming this airline.
