In a day of confusion and long delays across the country, the condition of India’s aviation system came under strong criticism from Assam leaders Gaurav Gogoi and Jagadish Bhuyan after thousands of passengers were left waiting for hours at major airports, especially at Delhi’s Terminal 1.
Assam Lok Sabha MP and Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi said the present situation shows how weak the Indian aviation sector has become. He said it is sad to see the decline of a sector that was once competitive and open to new companies. According to him, the shift began after the Modi government took charge, when the market started moving towards monopolies and duopolies.
Gogoi said that many experts, including former Deputy RBI Governor Viral Acharya, had warned about the dangers of such domination by a few players. He said the government did not pay attention to these concerns and did not protect ordinary passengers. He also said that duopolies and cartel-like practices can now be seen in many other sectors, which mainly hurt poor and middle-class families. Gogoi said it would be wise for the central government to rethink how it deals with Indian industry so that such situations do not grow worse. 
Meanwhile, Jagadish Bhuyan, General Secretary of the Assam Jatiya Parishad, also raised strong concerns about the chaos at the airports. He said passengers had been stranded for more than 16 hours without clear information or help. Many flights were either cancelled or delayed without any proper communication, leaving passengers worried and frustrated. He said there were several complaints about lack of food, water, and updates from the authorities.
Bhuyan said this situation cannot be called a small “technical glitch” or a simple “weather issue.” He pointed out that IndiGo, which manages almost 60% of domestic air travel, was unable to function normally for many hours. He said such a breakdown raises serious questions about the safety, planning, and readiness of the aviation ecosystem.
He also questioned the role of the central government and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, asking how such a large failure could happen without any quick emergency response. Bhuyan said the lack of preparedness was worrying. He added that there were already discussions about possible sabotage aimed at affecting IndiGo, though he said this must be looked into through a proper inquiry.
Bhuyan demanded that the government set up a high-level independent inquiry committee within 24 hours, ensure real-time updates for passengers, and provide immediate support at airports. He also called for direct intervention by the Prime Minister and the Civil Aviation Minister, saying this situation was nothing less than a national aviation emergency. He further said the inquiry findings should be made public within seven days so that people know the truth.
