Civil Aviation Minister, Ajit Singh is facing criticism over the ongoing mess in the state-run Air India in the parliament after the largest opposition party, BJP raised the issue in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj demanded Mr. Sigh's presence in the house to answer the questions about the ongoing agitation at the national carrier. The opposition also warned that it might move a privilege motion against Singh for making statements outside Parliament indicating that Ai would be privatized.

It was alleged that he should not have give a statement outside the parliament as the matter was yet to come up in the parliament. Air India had to cancel 24 flights on Monday, most of which were international flights as 300 of its pilots did not show up for work on the day.

The airline said that the flights on Delhi-Toronto, Delhi-Chicago, Mumbai-Newark and Mumbai-Hongkong via Delhi sectors were cancelled as the pilots did not come for work. The management of state-run Air India has toughened its stance and has approached the Delhi high court to restrain its pilots from striking and not reporting for work.

Air India had announced its decision to sack a group of 10 pilots on Tuesday after they went on an agitation against the airline. The airline management also announced that it is derecognizing their union and had to seal its offices in Delhi and Mumbai.