India’s civil aviation ministry has rejected calls to change the “GAY” code for Gaya International Airport after a lawmaker deemed it “offensive”, saying such International Air Transport Association (IATA) codes are permanent and can only be altered for aviation safety reasons.
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The clarification came after Bhim Singh, a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, told the Rajya Sabha – the upper house of India’s parliament – on Tuesday that the term “gay” was “socially and culturally offensive and uncomfortable”, especially for a religious destination like Gaya.
Gaya, in eastern Bihar, is one of India’s oldest and most sacred cities – a major pilgrimage centre for Hindus and Buddhists. Nearby Bodh Gaya, just about 5 km away, is the site where Gautama Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment, and its Mahabodhi Temple was designated a Unesco World Heritage site in June 2002.
Singh asked if the government had received complaints about the code and whether it intended to consider a change to a “more respectful and culturally appropriate” alternative, according to the Hindustan Times.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said the code was assigned by the IATA, and that changes were only permitted under limited criteria.
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“IATA location codes are considered permanent and are altered only under exceptional circumstances, usually involving air safety concerns,” Mohol told the Rajya Sabha, as quoted by The Hans India.