Yesterday's scheduled meeting with the Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri took a last minute deviation. We were informed that the meeting would be with the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation Shri Pradeep Singh Kharola and not the Minister himself since he was "stuck up in an urgent meeting".

Shri Kharola was surely sympathetic to my cause. We shared a good laugh when I said that I was no activist but just another artist trying to do his profession who would feel good if there were no hindrances thrown by the airline industry! Coming down to serious matter, he was shocked at seeing pictures of my damaged sitar and agreed that it did appear as if someone had 'sliced' it open and it was no accident. 

Trying to work together, I suggested the following as some basic steps that the Ministry could take to safe guard the interests of musicians and their musical instruments.

1. Do away with the "Limited Release" rule that airlines force us to sign, amounting literally to blackmail.

2.  Introduce guidelines for musical instruments like the ones for baby strollers. Instruments can be handed over by the artist just before boarding and handed back immediately after passengers get off. This will minimise the number of people who handle it.

3.  Allow artists flying Air India a 7 day window to report damages of their musical instruments upon arrival at their destination.

4. Get the 'You break, you pay" policy in.

I have been promised that the Ministry would look into this matter and hold discussions with Air India and other airlines and they would get back to me 'at the earliest'. 

Keeping my fingers crossed and hopeful something good will come out of this meeting. If not, my legal case is ready and I will move forward with that.