New Delhi, June 14, 2025 — At an urgent press conference held today at A.P. Bhavan in New Delhi, international humanitarian and peace advocate Dr. K.A. Paul appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately accept the resignation of Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. Citing 17 reasons, Dr. Paul criticized the minister’s severe lack of experience and pointed to the recent tragic crash of Air India Flight 171, which claimed nearly 300 lives and cast a shadow on India’s global reputation.
Addressing the media, Dr. Paul questioned why such a crucial ministry was entrusted to a 37-year-old with no aviation background.
“I demand the resignation of Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. At only 37 years old and without any experience in aviation, he is ill-equipped to manage this highly complex sector. I have personally owned a private aircraft since 1991,” Dr. Paul stated.
The fatal accident involved 169 Indian nationals, along with 53 British, 7 Portuguese, 1 Canadian, and several medical students. Dr. Paul described the tragedy as an international embarrassment for India and called for accountability at the highest levels of leadership.
“This disaster took the lives of 169 Indians, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and a Canadian citizen. To protect India’s international standing, the minister must step down,” he added.
In addition to domestic concerns, Dr. Paul expressed deep worry over the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. Highlighting the imminent threat of military conflict, he urged immediate diplomatic intervention to prevent a wider global crisis.
“I call upon Prime Minister Netanyahu to halt attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites, and appeal to Iranian leaders to refrain from retaliatory actions that could ignite a third world war. We cannot afford more wars—millions of lives have already been lost in 56 wars, causing trillions of dollars in damages,” he said.
Having previously served as a state guest in Iran and provided humanitarian aid there, Dr. Paul warned that ongoing conflict could have severe worldwide consequences, especially considering the strategic alliances involved on both sides.
