Tatas the better candidate to buy Air India: Airtel's Mittal
Bharti Airtel's Sunil Mittal has said if Air India is to be privatised, then Tatas will be one of the better candidates to buy stake in the airline. His response came after reports suggested that Tata Group was interested in buying a controlling stake in the airline. Notably, Air India was originally owned by Tata before being nationalised in 1953.
New Delhi, Jun 22 (PTI) If Air India is to be privatised, then Tatas will be one of the better candidates to buy stake in the airline, according to business leader Sunil Mittal. Amid the government exploring ways to revive the debt- laden airline, Tata group is believed to be interested in purchasing stake in the national carrier. "Tatas, if it (Air India) has to be privatised, should be one of the better candidates," Mittal said here. His response came when reporters sought his views on reports that Air India might be sold off and that Tatas are interested in buying stake in the airline. Mittal, chairman of telecom major Bharti Airtel, is also a well known face of Indian business. There are various proposals, including complete privatisation, are on the table to reverse the fortunes of Air India but there is no finality yet. A senior Civil Aviation Ministry official today said the Cabinet would first decide on the future course of action for Air India. Only then, it would be clear whether there would be disinvestment or some other route would be looked at for reviving the airline, the official added. On Wednesday, sources said Tata group was evaluating options on buying stake in the airline. 