A sale of Air India, which hasn’t made money since its merger with Indian Airlines more than a decade ago, would boost Modi’s credentials as a reformer taking the state away from businesses.
In her budget speech, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the channel will serve as a platform for startups to meet with venture capitalists, discuss growth and other issues.
Nirmala Sitharaman said the RBI will replace the National Housing Bank and be the regulator of housing finance firms such as Dewan Housing Finance Corp. and Anil Ambani’s Reliance Capital.
A theme has not yet emerged for BJP & people see lack of a contest, which makes it unexciting. For all these reasons, 2024 is turning out to be an unexpectedly theme-less election.
There should be a sense of realism when it comes to Air India. A more difficult enterprise to dispose of than Jet Airways. There is no point retaining, say, one third of the shares, for disposal at a later date, when valuations might improve. That worked well for Hindustan Zinc. The tough decision the government needs to take is, We will provide no more budgetary support, under any circumstances. If that results in the enterprise shutting down, So be it. All bank liabilities would be honoured by the government, and all employees would be given a reasonable VRS package. Assets would in that case be sold piecemeal.
There should be a sense of realism when it comes to Air India. A more difficult enterprise to dispose of than Jet Airways. There is no point retaining, say, one third of the shares, for disposal at a later date, when valuations might improve. That worked well for Hindustan Zinc. The tough decision the government needs to take is, We will provide no more budgetary support, under any circumstances. If that results in the enterprise shutting down, So be it. All bank liabilities would be honoured by the government, and all employees would be given a reasonable VRS package. Assets would in that case be sold piecemeal.