A day after E P Jayarajan, the all powerful Left Democratic Front convener declared that he would boycott IndiGo Airlines in future for its decision to ban him for three weeks and described it as the worst in the world, the airlines got a pat on the back for its commendable services from a trans woman.
Actress Sukanyeah Krishna, who flew from Bangalore to Thiruvananthapuram in IndoGo praised the airlines for its ‘splendid’ service and courtesy extebded to the passengers. “Though I have flown in many airlines, I would like to rate IndiGo as the best for the courtesy extended to the passengers , especially to persons like me who are always looked down by other airlines . There were instances in the past when some airlines refused to allow me to travel despite my holding valid tickets,” Krishna wrote in her social media pages on Tuesday. She said that recently she had an unfortunate experience while flying with another airlines. “Having understood that I was a trans woman, the staff denied me permission to board the aircraft. It is only after prolonged arguments that they allowed me permission to fly by the aircraft. The attitude of the staff throughout the flight was unbearable and discriminatory,” writes Krishna.
But she was all praise for IndiGo for being kind and dignified in their behaviour to her. “Last June while I was flying from Bangalore to Trivandrum by IndiGo airlines, I had a surprise waiting for me. The airlines authorities informed me that I have been selected as the Pride Customer of the Pride Month. Throughout the journey, I was treated like a celebrity by the crew as well as the commander of the flight. I could not believe what was happening around me as they suffocated me with love,” writes Krishna who has also posted pictures of her with the flight crew.
Jayarajan was barred from flying IndiGo for his behaviour inside the aircraft last month when he allegedly assaulted two Congress activists for raising slogans against chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan who too was flying from Kannur to Thiruvananthapuram. Though Vijayan had come out of the aircraft as Thiruvananthapuram airport much before the Congressmen shouted slogans at him, Jayarajan who was travelling with Vijayan rushed to them and reportedly assaulted them. The airlines which held a probe into the matter barred the Congressman from flying for the nest two weeks while Jayarajan was slapped with a ban for three weeks.
The CPI(M) leader, on being informed about the temporary ban, declared that he would not travel by the airlines even of there are no other airlines in the world. “I prefer walking all the way from Thoruvananthapuram to Kannur. Let the K-Rail come, we will see to that the IndiGo airlines disappear from the skies,” said Jayarajan.
K Jayashankar, political critic, said that Jayarajan’s decision not to fly IndiGo has put the airlines in real trouble. “Jayarajan being a powerful CPI(M) leader, partymen including Pinarayi Vijayan may have to declare that they would follow suit and express solidarity with Jayarajan,” said Jayashankar. For the uninitiated, Kerala is not short of any kind of controversies.