EaseMyTrip Founder and Chairman Nishant Pitti has raised serious concerns over Chinese ownership in popular travel platforms, warning that such companies may be accessing sensitive Indian passport data. He called this a national security issue, not just a business matter.
In a post on X, Pitti questioned whether travellers are booking through platforms aligned with India or controlled by foreign regimes hostile to the country. He tagged key government bodies, including @PMOIndia and @MEAIndia, urging scrutiny.
“Some popular travel apps with significant Chinese ownership may be accessing Indian passport data. This isn’t just about business – it’s a national security issue,” Pitti posted.
He endorsed an earlier post by EaseMyTrip CEO and Co-Founder Rikant Pitti, who highlighted the company’s stand on safeguarding national interests. Rikant recalled that EaseMyTrip was the only Indian OTA to boycott Maldives for over a year out of respect for India, only resuming bookings after relations normalised.
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, Rikant added, the company was also the first to issue a travel advisory against Turkey and Azerbaijan for their open support to Pakistan.
“As a proud Indian company, the safety and sentiments of Indian travellers have always guided our actions,” he stated.
He welcomed the growing support from other travel platforms now taking similar stands. “For us, it’s not a slogan. It’s our principle – Nation First. Business Later,” he added.
EaseMyTrip has urged Indian travellers to avoid non-essential trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan. Social media users also backed the stance, with many trending hashtags urging a boycott of these destinations.
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