Chinese airline ‘misbehaves’ with Indians, govt takes up complaint

India has taken up with China a complaint filed by an Indian passenger alleging misbehaviour with Indians at the Shanghai Pudong international airport by staff of a Chinese airline, a report said on Sunday. The airline has denied the allegation.

The matter has been taken up with the Shanghai foreign affairs office of the Chinese foreign ministry and the Pudong airport authorities after it was brought to the notice of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, sources told a news agency.

Meanwhile, China Eastern Airlines has denied the allegation, saying that after checking related materials and the airport’s CCTV footage, it found news reports about the incident did not conform to facts, staterun Xinhua news agency reported.

“Instead, the airlines employees offered meticulous service,” the airline said in a statement.

Earlier, media reports said North American Punjabi Association executive director Satnam Singh Chahal wrote to Swaraj alleging that he noticed that at the exit gate of the plane for wheelchair passengers, ground staff was insulting transit Indian passengers. Chahal, who travelled on August 6 by a China Eastern Airlines flight. He said when he complained to the airline concerned, he was shouted down by the official. Chahal even suggested to Swaraj to issue an advisory for Indians to avoid transiting through China.