Cong MP Pramod Tiwari accuses airlines of exploiting Maha Kumbh for profit

In a heated session of the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari drew attention to the exorbitant airfares charged for travel to Prayagraj during the ongoing Maha Kumbh. Accusing airline operators of exploiting religious sentiments for profit, Tiwari argued that these prices effectively amount to “looting” the public under the guise of faith and tradition.

During Question Hour, Tiwari noted that the fare from Chennai to Prayagraj stands at Rs 53,000. He also highlighted that round-trip tickets between Kolkata and Prayagraj are priced at Rs 35,000, while fares from Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai have soared to Rs 47,500 during the festival period. In response, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar interjected with a remark emphasising the “importance of Prayagraj,” a comment that drew applause from BJP members present in the House.

When questioned about whether these steep fares were standard or a result of the Maha Kumbh surge, Tiwari clarified that his concerns pertained solely to the festival period. Dhankhar countered by noting that the Maha Kumbh is a rare event occurring once every 144 years. Undeterred, Tiwari pressed further, asking if the government’s priorities lay with preserving tradition and faith or with allowing blatant profiteering.

“In the name of Maha Kumbh, people are being robbed,” Tiwari declared. He challenged Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu to intervene and stop what he termed as “loot” carried out in the name of religious celebration. Tiwari suggested that while a temporary increase in fares might be understandable, they should not be inflated to levels that far exceed normal pricing.

Defending the rates, Naidu maintained that the high airfares were purely “demand-driven”. Earlier, when Tiwari compared ticket prices for Prayagraj with those for routes such as London to Delhi, Naidu asserted that Prayagraj holds greater significance than London — a comment which also received hearty applause from the treasury benches.

The debate has ignited widespread discussion across political circles, with critics urging the government to ensure fair pricing practices during significant cultural events in earnest.