The Hindu Business Line : Rudy says vested interests at work

THE Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Rajiv Pratap Rudy, on Wednesday regretted that he was being "crucified" for various acts of omission and commission, which, he claimed, were not committed by him.

"I want to get over this issue. I have paid the entire bill for my four-day stay at the Taj Exotica in Goa and I want to get over with it. Where is the question of the Airports Authority of India paying for the bill when no booking was made by them," Mr Rudy told Business Line.

In the past few days, reports have been appearing in the press linking the Minister with not paying for his stay at the hotel in Goa in December last year and seeking public sector undertakings to carry out various works at his home and office. "Where is the question of misuse of public funds? If people are saying that I have misused public funds then I should not be sitting in my chamber right now, as the building is of the AAI," Mr Rudy said, when asked on the wrongdoings.

Mr Rudy claimed that it was "vested" interests "opposed largely to reforms, privatisation and attempts at bringing about efficiency" who seemed to be behind the campaign.