THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Protest mounts from various quarters against the move of the Centre to privatize Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. On Monday, the district wing of the Left Democratic Federation (LDF) observed black-day at Chackai in front of the entrance of the International Airport here.
The protest was organised in the wake of the authorities’ move to initiate tendering procedures to privatise the airport. Meanwhile, a group of employees of the airport has begun a relay hunger strike in front of the administrative building of the domestic terminal in protest against the privatisation move.
Inaugurating the black day observation at Cha-ckai, CPI (M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakris-hnan alleged that the BJP government is trying to sell public sector undertakings to raise funds for winning elections.
He alleged that the Centre is aiming for the huge commission they get by selling the airports for private parties.
Mr Kodiyeri said that the move to privatise the airport will be stalled at any cost and the airport should continue to function under the Airport Authority of India. He said that the state government has informed the Centre its willingness to take over the operations of the Air-port if they disown it. The Centre has asked us to take part in the auctioning, he added.
Janada Dal secretary general N. Neelalohithadas, M. Sampath, MP, Advocate J Venugopalan Nair took part in the protest.
