The Narendra Modi government has decided to privatise the Rs 52,000 crore debt laden national carrier the Air India. A decision that will raise the hackles of trade unions and Left parties who have managed to block disinvestment in the airline sector for over 25 years.

"Our belief is that government is very good at somethings and pathetic at other things. It should get out of areas where its very bad and it should take out resources which are not in productive area should be taken out. There is no rationale of government to put money into an airline which is just taking 14% of market share. Private sector has done pretty well and our analysis showed that resources required are huge and they need to be put in education and health.", asks Amitabh Kant, Niti Aayog CEO.

"Our government is transparent and it will happen in this case as well, our government is for the people and we are ready to make any changes to make Air India more competitive", Jayant Sinha, MoS Civil Aviation added.

Top level sources have told India Today that the privatisation process will be completed in the next 12 months.