Govt hasn’t taken any decision on handing over Mangaluru Airport to Adani, claims union minister

April 16, 2019

Mangaluru, Apr 16: In a bizarre claim, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu has said that the government has yet taken no decision on privatising Mangaluru International Airport.

He was responding to queries of media persons at a press conference in in the city. “There is no decision taken on that subject,” he said.

However, recent reports had suggested that model code of conduct imposed after the announcement of the Lok Sabha polls had put on hold the handing over of the six airports including Mangaluru to Adani.

Reports also suggested that the decision to defer handing over the six airports, at present run by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), to Adani may have been prompted by the government’s intent to avoid a political controversy before the general elections. Such large contracts had become a subject of political controversies in the past.

“There is no need to award the projects in a hurry. It can be done in due course," a government official cited earlier.

Deferring the award of the projects till the election is over will reduce the chance of controversy, considering that all the six projects were won by a bidder who has little experience in managing airports. An email sent to the company seeking comments about the award of the projects remained unanswered till publishing of this story.

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JD(S) leader G T Devegowda backs CM Siddaramaiah in MUDA row, taunts HDK

News Network

October 4,2024

Mysuru: Chairman of JD(S) core committee and Chamundeshwari constituency MLA G T Devegowda on Thursday expressed his solidarity with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying the latter need not resign, while lambasting leaders of his own party and alliance partner BJP, including Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

In his speech during Mysuru Dasara inauguration he said that if persons against whom FIR is registered have to resign, many leaders from all the three parties, including Opposition Leader R Ashoka, will have to resign.

“All are sitting in glass houses... Since I know Siddaramaiah well, I am talking about him. At a time when mines and real estate are ruling politics, Siddaramaiah has survived in politics. He has never done any favour,” Devegowda said.

He added, “Allegations against Siddaramaiah are unexpected and accidental. If the Governor and Chief Justice order an investigation, it does not mean that he should resign."

He continued, asking, "Have they told Siddaramaiah to resign or have they asked to imprison him? When a person becomes a Central minister, he or she should realise their dignity and responsibility. Instead of recognising the good work done by Siddaramaiah, they ask him to resign. Will Kumarswamy (facing an FIR) resign? Should Siddaramaiah, who has become CM with a support of 135 MLAs, resign?"

"Opposition leaders are not remembering the good work of earlier CMs Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Veerendra Patil, Ramakrishna Hegde, H D Deve Gowda or S M Krishna. Karnataka is a model state. It is a bad trend to topple an elected government which is doing good work,” he further said.

Devegowda added, “Siddaramaiah is Goddess Chamundeshwari’s ‘Varaputra’ and hence has her blessings during tough times. He won the election in Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency, when the BJP-JD(S) government was in power in 2006. With the blessings of the Goddess, he has held varied positions right from becoming an MLA for the first time in 1983. He presented 15 budgets and has become CM for a second time. He took H C Mahadevappa, a Dalit leader to the state level. Siddaramaiah has the support of Deputy CM D K Shivakumar as ‘Jodeththu’. Blessings of the beneficiaries of guarantee schemes are with him (Siddaramaiah).”

Siddaramaiah said, “Devegowda was a MUDA member. He knows the truth. Hence, he is saying this. His words have filled strength in me. ‘Satyameva Jayate’, Truth will always triumph.”

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