Airport workers, police clash in Delhi

A scuffle broke out between angry AAI employees and police at the New Delhi airport. The protestors claimed buses bringing employees to the airport were being diverted elsewhere, leading to the scuffle and they blocked the road leading to the airport for around 10 minutes.

The situation was soon brought under control and flights continued to be unaffected by the agitation, Airport Authority of India spokesman Prem Nath said.

He said vehicular traffic to the airport was now running smoothly and the High Court directive that agitating employees should do not come within 500 metres of the airport was being implemented.  Extra police and paramilitary forces have been deployed around the airport.

The drama of airport privatisation

Despite the court order, amenities like water supply and sanitation were badly affected as passengers complained of unclean toilets and garbage littered around the airport.

The demonstrations by trade unions continued just outside the arrival terminal at the domestic airport, the venue where where it was being held since the past two days.

"We are yet to receive a copy of the High Court order. We can take a decision only after we see the order," S R Santhanam, President of the Airport Authority Employees Union said.

A delegation of leaders from Left parties were to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh later in the day to discuss the issue of "privatisation" of airports and the employees stir.