Gaya: BJP Rajya Sabha MP Bhim Singh has stirred controversy in Parliament by demanding a change to the three-letter airport code ‘GAY’, assigned to Bihar’s Gaya airport. Describing the code as “socially and culturally objectionable”, Singh urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation to consider assigning a “more respectable” alternative.
Raising the matter through a written question in the Rajya Sabha, Singh argued that certain airport codes assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) make people uncomfortable. He asked whether the government would initiate steps to alter the code for Gaya, citing its potential to cause embarrassment.
Responding to the query, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol ruled out any change, stating that airport codes are location identifiers determined by IATA. “These three-letter codes generally use the first letters of the city or airport’s name. The code GAY has been assigned to Gaya airport on this basis,” he said.
Mohol also referred to IATA Resolution 763, which states that unless there is a compelling social or cultural reason, such codes cannot be altered. “Codes can only be changed in exceptional circumstances, such as a legitimate operational issue,” he added.
Singh’s comments drew sharp criticism from LGBTQ rights activists, who condemned the suggestion that the word ‘GAY’ was offensive. Many described the MP’s remarks as insensitive and derogatory to the LGBTQ community.
The BJP MP, Bhim Singh Chandravanshi, represents Bihar in the Rajya Sabha and has previously served as a minister in the Nitish Kumar and Jitan Ram Manjhi cabinets. A former three-term Legislative Council member, Singh has been associated with RJD, JDU and is now the state vice-president of the BJP. He has previously courted controversy for his 2013 remark that “people join the army only to die or become martyrs.”
