Centre’s decision to privatise Mangaluru airport is not acceptable: Minister UT Khader
Mangaluru, November 30: District Minister UT Khader said that he would strongly oppose the unilateral decision of the Central government to privatise the Mangaluru airport without taking the opinion of the state government.
The state government has been investing funds for the development of the Mangaluru airport. But the central government has neither asked the opinion of the state government, nor discussed in the Cabinet meeting. It has taken unilateral decision to privatise the airport which is not acceptable. This decision would affect the life of airport employees, he said.
Without taking steps to develop the airport through the Ministry of Aviation, the central government has taken a decision to privatise the airport which caused lot of questions. Those who have been chanting Swadeshi mantra have taken the decision to privatise the public sector airport.
The central government had planned to privatise the Kerala airport. But it has withdrawn that proposal and now, it was targeting the Mangaluru airport and it has to answer as to why such a decision was taken. The local MP should inform the opinion of the district people in the Parliament, he said.
On illegal constructions, the Minister said that the government was mulling to amend the norms in the Urban Development Department to take action against licence giving officer and the building owner who construct buildings illegally after taking permission to construct buildings in urban areas.
Houses to 840 families in Kodagu
The government has decided to give funds to construct houses for 840 families which lost houses in the Kodagu natural disaster. The government has already released Rs 32 crore to develop basic infrastructure like drainages, drinking water and other. It was decided to construct two bed-room houses at a cost of Rs 9.45 lakh each. Total seven places were identified to construct houses and the work would be started in four places. Total seven models including Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme model were tested for the purpose, he said.
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy would launch a scheme to give a monthly rent of Rs 10,000 to those families have lost their houses in the natural disaster in Kodagu to live in rented houses, he added.
Madikeri-Sampaje-Sullia road
The work of constructing the Madikeri-Sampaje-Sullia road was under progress and it would be completed soon. The central funds would be asked for constructing a good road, he said.
Rs 1 lakh prize
The Minister said that a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh would be given to the police who booked a suo motu case in related to a gang-rape on a woman who visited Tannirbhavi beach along with her friend, and arrested the accused. On Friday, he handed over Rs 1 lakh cheque to the police through city police commissioner Suresh. On the occasion, Rs 4.12 lakh compensation was given to the victim and in coming days, complete compensation would be given to the victim, he said.
The Minister congratulated Panambur police inspector Rafeeq KM, ASU Umesh Kumar, ACP Manjunath Shetty, DCP Hanumantharaya, Uma Prashanth, and police commissioner TR Suresh and team.
Former minister Abhayachandra Jain, MLC Harish Kumar, Congress leaders Sadashiva Ullala, Eshwara Ullala, Nuruddin Salmara, Youth Congress leader Mithun Rai and others were present.
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Attacks on Christians contradict PM's message of harmony, visit to church: Gehlot
Jaipur (PTI): Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday expressed concern over the reported attacks and disruptions in prayer gatherings of the Christian community in different parts of the country, saying such incidents were "worrying and condemnable".
In a post on X, Gehlot said that while the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was visiting a church and giving a message of peace and harmony, news of attacks on members of the Christian community from various regions reflected a serious contradiction.
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"Symbolic gestures would not be enough, and strict legal action was required against those spreading hatred," the senior Congress leader said.
He added that Indian culture has always upheld the spirit of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", where every citizen has full freedom to practise their faith.
Gehlot urged the Centre and state governments to uphold the rule of law and ensure that no citizen is forced to celebrate their festival under fear.
