New Delhi: Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya has taken a dig at the government for “discriminating” between state-owned and private airlines and extended his “sympathies” to Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal.
“Even though Jet was a major competitor to Kingfisher at the time I feel sorry to see such a large private airline on the brink of failure when Government used 35K crores of public funds to bail out Air India. Just being a PSU is no excuse for discrimination,” Vijay Mallya tweeted.
The businessman also expressed solidarity with Naresh Goyal. “Even though we were fierce competitors, my sympathies go out to Naresh and Neeta Goyal who built Jet Airways that India should be extremely proud of. Fine Airline providing vital connectivity and class service. Sad that so many Airlines have bitten the dust in India. Why?” he tweeted.
In the following tweet, Mallya added, “I invested hugely into Kingfisher which rapidly grew to become India’s largest and most awarded airline. True, Kingfisher borrowed from PSU Banks as well. I have offered to pay back 100 percent but am being criminally charged instead. Airline Karma?”
He said that despite having offered to pay 100 per cent back to the PSU banks, media say that he is scared and terrified of extradition from the UK to India.
“I am willing to pay either way whether I am in London or in an Indian Jail. Why don’t Banks take the money I offered first,” he questioned.
It can be recalled that 63-year-old Mallya had submitted a ‘renewal application’ in the UK High Court, appealing against extradition to India, in the money laundering charges amounting to Rs 9,000 cr in India.
