BJP member writes to PM again, demands wider consultation on Jet Airways-Etihad deal

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of Parliament has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for "wider inter-agency consultations" on the Rs 2,058 crore Jet Airway-Etihad Airways deal.

Nishikant Dubey, an MP from the eastern state Jharkhand has written to the prime minister on the serious technical issue of "control" in the proposed foreign direct investment (FDI) deal.

Gulf-based Etihad had on April 24 announced its decision to purchase 24 per cent stake in the Naresh Goyal-led airline.

"I am concerned of the brazen manner of decision taking (place) under your government," Dubey said in his second letter to the prime minister. The letter has been sent to Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

The Parliamentarian has alleged that the proposed agreement between the two airlines is in violation of FDI norms.

Dubey had written to Singh earlier this month too, with copies marked to Central Bureau of Investigation, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth, alleging "strategic conspiracy" by some elements to get the deal approved.

CVC has sought a "factual report" from Ministry of Civil Aviation on the matter. The move followed after Dubey wrote to the commission in June, alleging Jet Airways of being involved in serious fraud to cheat the Union government and cause a huge revenue loss of $5 billion to the national exchequer, in collusion with senior Civil Aviation Ministry officials.

The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) had on June 13 deferred a decision on the deal, saying it required more clarity on control and ownership structure of Jet Airways. The board will take up the matter again on July 29.

With inputs from PTI