Aviation crisis not our responsibility: Govt

NEW DELHI: The current turmoil in the aviation industry is not the government's responsibility, a senior minister said here on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters, minister for science and technology Kapil Sibal said while the government was “worried” about the crisis facing the aviation sector, it was “not a direct responsibility of the government”.

“This is an internal matter. It is not our direct responsibility. Our job is to make the economy strong,” said Sibal, adding that the government had given the country a "strong economy" in the last five years.

"If our airlines are not competitive and trying to become efficient, it's their call," the minister added.

He said the country's economic situation was better when compared globally, with the GDP growth still projected at 7 percent.

Sibal said the government was taking several measures to deal with the current financial situation. "Our banks are taking lots of steps and we are giving assurance that people's money is safe in banks," he said.