NEW DELHI:  The Government today denied any move to extend protocol for VIPs in private airlines in the country.

In written reply to a question by Harivansh in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha answered in an emphatic “NoÂÂ when asked whether the ministry had sent a notice to private airlines and other stakeholders regarding protocol to be extended to VIPs in private airlines.

The Civil Aviation Ministry has been under pressure from MPs and other members of the political class that private carriers roll out the red carpet for them on the lines of the State-owned Air India.

In the recent past at least two MPs Ravindra Gaikwad and Diwakar Reddy were in the news for their alleged misbehaviour with airline staff. Lawmakers have been demanding that they should be extended privileges whenever they take flights to their destinations.

The Minister said there was no question of common people being put to any hardship because of protocol being extended to VIPs by private airlines.