CPI(M) leader ends 2-year-long IndiGo boycott after Sitaram Yechury's death; know why

CPI(M) leader ends 2-year-long IndiGo boycott after Sitaram Yechury's death
13 Sep 2024

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader EP Jayarajan flew on an IndiGo flight from Karipur to Delhi on Thursday night, ending his two-year boycott of the airline.

The former Left Democratic Front convener had vowed in July 2022 never to fly with IndiGo following a three-week flying ban imposed on him.

The ban was a result of his involvement in an onboard scuffle on an IndiGo aircraft also carrying Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Jayarajan's decision to end boycott influenced by Yechury's death
Decision motivation

Jayarajan confirmed that he chose IndiGo to reach Delhi swiftly and pay his respects to the late party general secretary Sitaram Yechury, who passed away on Thursday.

He stated, "Yechury was bigger than everything else and reaching Delhi quickly was more important than what I had stated about the airline two years ago."

Yechury passed away after a prolonged illness at the age of 72.

Details of the 2022 onboard scuffle
Incident background

The incident that led to Jayarajan's boycott occurred on June 13, 2022, when two Youth Congress workers shouted slogans against Vijayan inside an IndiGo aircraft from Kannur after it landed at Thiruvananthapuram airport.

Jayarajan, who was also onboard, allegedly pushed aside the two protesters.

This led to a three-week flying ban on him and a two-week flying ban on the two Youth Congress workers by the airline.

Jayarajan's previous stance and protest details
Past remarks

Following the airline's decision to impose a flying ban, Jayarajan had strongly criticized IndiGo.

He stated that neither he nor his family would ever travel by IndiGo—nationally or internationally—and there are other airlines in the country which are more reputable and offer a much better service.

The Youth Congress workers were protesting against Vijayan over allegations against him in a gold smuggling case.