Leader of the Indian National Lok Dal and Hisar MP Shri Dushyant Chautala today raised the issue of giving martyr status to the Indian Air Force personnel and officials losing their lives in air crashes during the ongoing Parliament session.Shri Chautala sought data related to air accidents in the last three years and demanded need for upgradation to further check such mishaps. Referring to a report of Standing Committee on Defence of May this year, he said that 87 aircrafts had crashed in the past eight years in which 75 precious lives had been lost. In contrast, the number of such incidents abroad is far too low.
The MP sought a reply as to if the use of old aircrafts and their parts was a reason. “On this, the Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar stated that there has been a fall in mishaps related to aircrafts. Till the time an aircraft clears a test, it is not allowed to be flown”, he said. “The minister further replied that addition of new aircrafts is a regular process but he did not clarify if the use of old machinery is a problem”.The INLD leader urged the Defence Minister to give martyr status to the IAF personnel losing their lives while serving the country and that their families should get the due benefits. “Parrikar has given an assurance on giving help as per rules”, he said.Shri Chautala also shared that Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said that so far nothing conclusive had come on the missing AN32 aircraft and as such there was little hope left on safety of passengers on board.