Mangalore: Gulf NRI Forum urges resumption of direct flight to Kuwait
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Feb 27: Gulf NRI Forum-Kuwait and Tulu Koota Kuwait, expressing surprise and shock at the sudden withdrawal of Air India Express flights between Mangalore and Kuwait last week, have urged the union minister for civil aviation to resume this flight operation.
Addressing a press conference in the city on Wednesday February 27, Pascal Pinto, Gulf NRI Forum-Kuwait president, said that scores of people from the region are put to difficulties because of the decision of Air India Express to withdraw its flight operating on Mangalore-Kuwait route.
"Approximately 1.5 lac people from this region are in Kuwait alone. They travel to their native places at least once a year. This number does not include NRIs not registered with any of our associations and hence these numbers may be twice this number. Many passengers are forced to take other private airlines with connecting flights to the Gulf. This surely is a loss to government carriers like Air India and Indian Airlines. Lack of direct flight to Mangalore from the Gulf will affect the growth of tourism in the coastal region," he said.
He demanded either the resumption of this flight, or sincere efforts to get private international aviation firms to operate flights from the city to Kuwait. He informed that petitions containing these demands had already been handed over to union minister, M Veerappa Moily, union civil aviation minister, and MLA representing the city.
President of Konkan Overseas Returness Walfare Association (KORWA) Louis lobo, former chairman of Mangalore Urban Development Authority, Tejomaya and John Tauro were present.
Banned medicines
Pascal Pinto has asked the passengers to be very cautious while carrying medicines to Kuwait. “Several tablets that are banned for use in Kuwait are freely available in India. Some people living in that country routinely get these medicines from India through relatives or friends travelling to Kuwait. But some of them suffer avoidable ordeal once they reach Kuwait for possessing contraband medicines,” he explained.
He suggested for carrying documents bearing the signatures of medical practitioners if taking these medications becomes unavoidable. He warned that the persons carrying the medicines may be subjected to stringent punishment including imprisonment and deportation if the records in support of the medicines are found to be improper during police interrogation.
Fake visa agents
Pascal also pointed out about some educated youngsters travelling abroad, lured by the high paying jobs there, getting caught with fake visas and spending their lives inside Kuwait jails. He warned about some agents who dupe these people with fake visas. He suggested for getting the copies of visas and other records verified at the respective embassies for their genuineness before undertaking trips to foreign countries.
Memorandum
In a memorandum submitted to the union civil aviation minister, Tulu Koota Kuwait stated that the sudden decision of Air India Express to cancel this flight, which used to operate thrice a week, has created problems for over a lac of people from coastal Karnataka working in Kuwait. The memorandum pointed out that these passengers will be put to more problems and will be compelled to spend additional money if they have to go to some other airports like Mumbai to reach Kuwait, and has therefore requested the minister to resume this flight immediately.