New Delhi: Celebi Airport Services India, one of the biggest ground-handling companies in India, has had its security clearance suddenly revoked by India after Turkey stood in support of Pakistan in their recent tensions with India. As a result, Celebi has stepped forward to say the enterprise is Indian and free of links to any foreign politics, despite recent controversy.
Higer made its decision after India launched Operation Sindoor to protect the Jammu and Kashmir region from a deadly terrorist incident. Due to Turkey’s support of Pakistan during the conflict, there are now calls to boycott and watchfully monitor Turkish companies in India. At the centre of the controversy was Celebi, which originally worked at nine major airports in India. Online, people spread unverified claims that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s daughter, Sumeyye Erdogan, owned a stake in the company.
In a statement, he refuted all the allegations made. The company noted that its work in India is non-political and based on 15 years of experience. Celebi is not an organisation in Turkey. IT is an Indian company, supervised by Indian professionals, and it provides employment for more than 10,000 local people. Despite working on three continents for over 65 years, the firm guaranteed its neutrality, saying no associates or foreign interest groups were linked to the firm.
Celebi offers ground-handling support to international and local airlines at main airports in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Kannur, and Mopa airport. If the security clearance is revoked without warning, airlines might face operation disruptions and struggle to get replacement services.
The story has sparked arguments regarding foreign businesses in India, mainly those thought to be linked to countries that disagree with the policies of the Indian government. While Celebi claims it has been the victim of misunderstanding, India’s quick measures reveal a growing effort to protect its interests during growing world tension. Currently, the future of the company in India is uncertain as airlines and officials are addressing the situation.