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 But it has withdrawn that proposal and now, it was targeting the Mangaluru airport and it has to answer as to why such a decision was taken.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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Have no personal involvement in Cong’s action against some minority leaders: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said he has no personal involvement in action taken against certain Congress leaders from the minority community following allegations of an internal conspiracy during the recently held Davanagere South bypolls.
He clarified that the decisions were taken by the party high command based on available reports.
Asserting that party discipline is of utmost importance, Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, sought to downplay concerns that action against minority leaders may send the message that “Muslims are being targeted.”
“I don’t have any personal involvement in this. Whatever decisions are taken are made by the party leadership. The party has its own reports. Decisions regarding MLAs or MLCs cannot be taken at the state level without instructions from Delhi,” he said.
Speaking to reporters, he added, “People may blame me; I am not concerned. Everyone must function in accordance with party discipline.”
Responding to concerns within sections of the party that recent actions may convey the impression that minority leaders are being targeted, he said the Congress exists for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, backward classes, farmers, and all sections of society.
The Congress has suspended MLC K Abdul Jabbar from primary membership and relieved another MLC, Naseer Ahmed, from the post of Chief Minister’s political secretary.
The action followed allegations by a group of Muslim leaders that certain party members conspired to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South.
Following the action, speculation has emerged that Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan may also face disciplinary measures during the next cabinet reshuffle.
The three leaders had reportedly sought a Muslim candidate for the Davanagere South bypoll ticket, which the party instead allotted to the late MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s grandson, Samarth Mallikarjun.
They were also said to have not actively participated in the campaign.
Shivakumar also rejected claims of factionalism within the ruling party amid speculation that leaders close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were being targeted.
Naseer Ahmed and Zameer Ahmed Khan are considered close to the CM.
Rejecting allegations of factionalism within the party, Shivakumar said, “We speak to each other every day. It is the media that creates divisions. Where is my faction? Has anyone put up a board saying they belong to the Siddaramaiah faction? Have I put up any such board?”
“All 139 legislators are my people, and they are all Siddaramaiah’s people as well. Everyone belongs to the Congress,” he added, saying there are no factions within the party and that such claims are media-driven.
Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi met Shivakumar on Friday, a day after expressing concerns that disciplinary action against minority leaders may send the wrong message.
Shivakumar said he discussed with Jarkiholi the need to decongest Bengaluru traffic by diverting vehicles entering the city from state and national highways, along with party-related issues.
“We also discussed political matters in the interest of the party and the need to work together,” he said.
Later, speaking to reporters, Jarkiholi said he discussed with Shivakumar the issue of withdrawing Jabbar’s suspension. He said he will also visit New Delhi next week to meet the high command and discuss state developments.
“Jabbar’s suspension was discussed (with Shivakumar). It should be withdrawn. Let’s issue him a notice and allow him to reply. Then let’s send the report to the high command and seek their approval. High command approval is necessary because the instructions came from there. It may take some time,” he said.
Stating that he met the KPCC chief for “damage control,” the minister said, “We have tried to convince him. Sometimes certain decisions happen that need rectification.”
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