In a bold move underscoring national security concerns, the Government of India has revoked the security clearance of Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd, a Turkish aviation ground-handling company operating at key Indian airports. The decision was issued by Sunil Yadav, Joint Director (Operations) at the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). Celebi, which has managed ground services at Indian airports since 2008, is a subsidiary of Celebi Aviation Holding, headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey.
The company played a significant role in India’s civil aviation sector. Operating at nine major airports, including Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Chennai, and Hyderabad, Celebi handled over 58,000 flights and 540,000 tonnes of cargo annually. It provided services ranging from passenger handling, ramp operations, load control, and flight operations, to postal, cargo, and warehouse services. Employing around 7,800 people, Celebi was especially dominant at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, managing nearly 70% of ground operations.
Celebi: a Erdogan Family Strategic Footprint in Indian Skies
However, beyond its commercial profile lies a deeper geopolitical factor. Celebi is partially owned by Sumeyye Erdogan, daughter of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and wife of Selcuk Bayraktar, the architect of Turkey’s Bayraktar drones, military hardware deployed by Pakistan against India. This personal connection between the Erdogan family and entities aiding Pakistan in defence and diplomatic spheres has fuelled strong reactions in India.
The Indian government’s decision to revoke Celebi’s clearance followed growing calls to restrict Turkish businesses in response to Ankara’s overt and sustained support for Pakistan on issues like Kashmir. Turkey has repeatedly aligned itself with Pakistan on international platforms, releasing joint statements critical of India, coordinating diplomatic campaigns, and supporting educational and cultural initiatives that cast India in a negative light, especially concerning Kashmir and minority rights.
Restricting Turkey not Just for Drone Supply
India is not severing multiple deals with Turkey merely because it supplied drones to Pakistan. If supplying weapons to Pakistan were the sole criterion, then India would also need to cut ties with countries like the United States, China, and France. The core issue is Kashmir. Turkey has been interfering in the Kashmir matter for years, even going so far as to suggest to Pakistan that future discussions should take place in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
When the Arab nations distanced themselves from the Palestine cause, Turkey assumed that mantle, along with the Kashmir issue in an attempt to position itself as the self-proclaimed leader of the Muslim world. This initiative is largely driven by President Erdogan, his AKP party, and his family. This terror nexus has openly declared its ambition to revive the legacy of the Ottoman Empire. In line with this agenda, Erdogan has repeatedly raised the Kashmir issue at the United Nations.
Furthermore, Turkey is actively promoting a Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against India under the pretext of the Kashmir issue. This campaign is being carried out across Western countries and the Muslim world, with the support of extremist networks like the Muslim Brotherhood, Qatar-linked Al Jazeera. In this context, Turkey’s persistent intervention in the Kashmir issue poses a direct challenge to India’s sovereignty.
Congress’ Silence: A Political Paradox
While the Modi government’s action against Celebi has sparked a wave of nationalist approval, the conspicuous silence of the Indian National Congress has drawn criticism. This silence is particularly jarring considering the direct ownership ties between Celebi and the Erdogan family, figures widely perceived in India as antagonistic to its national interests.
The Congress party’s historical affinity with Turkey, coupled with its recent posturing on Palestine, Kashmir, and other international issues, reflects a dangerous ideological overlap with the Ankara-Islamabad axis. This is not merely speculative; the Congress and its ideological allies have, on multiple occasions, expressed sympathies that align closely with Turkish narratives. Moreover, the Celebi widened its operations in India in 2008 under UPA regime.
Notably, the Congress party opened an overseas office in Turkey in 2019, further strengthening its presence and links in the region. The party opened its office just three months after the abrogation of Article 370. The opening was a response to Turkey’s strategy to rallying like-minded allies from various nations to further its narrative. This move coincided with a surge in disinformation campaigns alleging that India is persecuting Muslims in Kashmir. In response, India banned the Twitter account of the Turkish state media outlet TRT World for spreading false narratives during Operation Sindoor.
Turkey’s aggressive advocacy for Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir has not drawn any condemnation from the Congress leadership. When President Erdogan raised Kashmir at the United Nations General Assembly and supported Pakistan’s position, the Congress party remained notably muted. Similarly, during the 2023 Israel-Gaza conflict, the Congress was quick to express its solidarity with Palestine, echoing Turkish rhetoric and bypassing any mention of Israel’s security concerns or the role of terror groups like Hamas. This pattern of selective commentary raises the question: is the Congress leveraging historical Nehruvian ties with Turkey for geopolitical positioning, or is it enabling an international narrative that undermines India’s sovereignty?
The Nehru and Erdogan families have each played dominant roles in their respective countries’ political narratives. Both have wielded power through legacy and institutional influence. But more than familial dominance, they share a penchant for projecting themselves as global thought leaders, often at odds with nationalist sentiment in their countries. It raises a troubling spectre: are these political dynasties inadvertently shaping a new global axis, where ideological solidarity overrides national interest?.
Implications for Indian Diplomacy
India’s move against Celebi signals that economic and commercial engagements will not be allowed to trump national security considerations. It also reflects a shift towards an assertive foreign policy that responds robustly to states seen as enabling anti-India rhetoric or actions.
However, domestic political ambivalence on such issues can dilute the impact of these diplomatic stances. When a major opposition party like the Congress chooses silence over national interest, especially in the face of clear provocation and strategic alignment between Turkey and Pakistan, it creates a vacuum in the national consensus. It may also give the impression of internal discord, which adversarial states could exploit.
India’s challenge, therefore, is twofold: to maintain a unified domestic front on matters of national interest and to recalibrate its foreign partnerships in a manner consistent with its security imperatives. The Celebi episode illustrates the kind of decisive action that garners both strategic clarity and popular support.
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