Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Nov 17: District Youth Congress and Mulky-Moodbidiri Block Congress are set to hold torch light protest rally from Circuit House to Bajpe airport on Wednesday November 18 condemning the privatisation of Mangaluru International Airport (MIA).
Addressing the media here on Tuesday November 17, District youth Congress president Mithun Rai said, "The public is agitated with the move made by the government to privatise Mangaluru International Airport and handing it over to Adani Group. We condemn the privatisation of the airport and renaming it to Adani Airport which has diminished the culture and history of the coastal belt. We have already conducted protest, hunger strike, and this was not done for the sake of publicity or to gain political mileage.
"We demand to rename the airport to Koti Chennaya Airport as proposed earlier. In this regard, we will hold a torch light protest rally from Circuit House to Bajpe airport on November 18. District Congress president Harish Kumar, former MLAs Ramanath Rai, J R Lobo and others will take part.
"Bengaluru, Mumbai and Gujarat airports were also privatised without changing the name of the airport and the former names have been retained. MP Nalin Kumar Kateel lacks will power to take up initiative in renaming the airport. Congress is known for nationalising while BJP is known for privatising. Congress is taking up this initiative and will protest, while in the coming days like minded organisations will also take part in the protest. Decision will be taken on conducting indefinite hunger strike demanding the same.
"We can also notice that earlier there was 'Tiger Dance' art inside the airport which signifies the culture of Tulunadu, which has now been replaced with Adani logo with an art of an elephant. We want the tiger dance art back in it its place in 24 hours. They can place the Adani logo any other place they wish to," he said.