Airport privatization process: Bidders returned fearing employees protest
Mangaluru, Jan 15: Representatives of three companies who have arrived at the Mangaluru airport for spot verification on Monday as part of the Mangaluru International Airport privatization process, have returned without evaluating the airport due to protest from airport employees.
In view of the privatization of Mangaluru International Airport proposal of the central government, representatives of Indus, GMR and National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Companies visited the airport.
After getting information about this, more than 60 airport employees resorted to protest due to which the teams of those companies have returned without conducting evaluating process.
As part of privatizing process of six airports in the country including Mangaluru international airport, the companies have participated in the bidding process. The bidders could evaluate the respective airports In the beginning. So, the representatives of these three companies have visited the airport on Monday at 10 am.
But the airport employees staged the protest with a slogan “go back private parties, go back”. This protest has forced the private companies to go back.
The central government has decided to privatise Guwahati, Lucknow, Trivandrum, Hyderabad and Jaipur airports. But the All India Airport Employees Association has strongly opposed the central government’s decision to privatise the profit-making airports in the country which have all basic infrastructures.
Speaking to Varthabharathi, Mangaluru Airport Employees Association president Aravind said that “We do not have any objection about the private companies building new airports and providing basic infrastructure.
But these airports were built with the public money worth lakhs of crores and provided all basic infrastructure and making good profits and we are opposing the stand of the centre govt to privatise the profit-making public sector airports.
The decision is not good for both the public and employees. Mangaluru airport has got good response from the foreign travelers also. If the commercial activities are encouraged after privatization, it would affect the flight users as well as the employees. Condemning this, we have been protesting the central government’s decision”, he said.
“We have already submitted memorandums to the all concerned persons including the Chief Minister and all ministers against privatization process. When Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu visited the city, our delegation has met him and apprised him against the central government’s decision. We will continue our fight as per the direction of the national and state associations of the airport employees”, he clarified.
Secretary Shravan Kumar, Organizing secretary Sunil Kumar, Treasurer Shakeel and others participated in the protest.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
There are talks regarding changing Karnataka Cong president, says Minister Parameshwara
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said there are also talks regarding change in state Congress president along with the cabinet reshuffle, and it is for the party leadership to decide on these matters.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who has completed four years as president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), is currently on an extension in the post.
"State Congress president (Shivakumar) has gone to Delhi. I have come to know that the Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) is also going today. There is a Congress working committee meeting tomorrow. They are going for that. After the meeting, I don't know whether they will discuss with the high command regarding the cabinet reshuffle," Parameshwara said in response to a question.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Along with that (cabinet reshuffle) we are also hearing talks about changing the state Congress president. So, on these two things, what decision the CM and the president will take in consultation with high command, I don't know."
While Siddaramaiah is leaving for the national capital this evening, Shivakumar is already there.
To a question on changing KPCC president, Parameshwara, who had earlier held the responsibility, said, he has only heard talks about it, but not sure it is at what stage.
"As there are talks regarding a cabinet reshuffle, there are also talks about changing the KPCC president. It is left to the high command. They will take a decision in consultation with the chief minister and incumbent president," he said.
Asked if his portfolio would be changed during the cabinet reshuffle, Parameshwara said, it is for the high command to decide.
"So far, I have abided by the high command's decisions and fulfilled the responsibilities they have given to me for the last 35 years. I'm ready to continue to do that," he added.
PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, who is seen as one of the contenders for the KPCC president post, on Wednesday said party presidentship is not an easy job. It is a difficult task and a responsibility to handle.
Speculations were rife about a possible cabinet reshuffle and evaluation of the performance of the ministers, ever since the Lok Sabha poll results. There has also been a demand from a section of MLAs, who are ministerial aspirants, to be inducted into the cabinet. Some have even openly expressed their wish to become ministers.
