Palakkad MP raises Vittala arrest issue in Parliament

Mangalore, May 4: M B Rajesh, Palakkad MP, on Friday raised in the Parliament the issue of the arrest of tribal boy Vittala Malekudiya, a student of MCJ at Mangalore University by ANF for alleged naxal links and the atrocities he has been facing from them.

Speaking to Coastaldigest.com, Mr. Rajesh said that he raised the issue of Mr. Vittala's arrest in the House and spoke about the atrocities that he and his father Linganna faced at the hands of ANF.

“I told the House that the ANF has been torturing the tribals in the region. I also brought to the notice of the House, the arrest of Vittala and his father and the violation of court orders by policemen who brought Vittala to the examination hall in handcuffs”, said Mr. Rajesh.

The MP also informed that he spoke about violation of the Forest Rights Act by authorities in the region as well.

Mr. Rajesh said that MPs of Trinammol Congress and Left parties expressed support for his cause. He demanded centre's intervention in the issue, he said. The House was later adjourned, he said.

Mr. Rajesh had paid a visit to the Mangalore Jail on April 18 and met Mr. Vittala and Mr. Linganna. He had also visited Mr. Vittala's village and spoken to his mother Honnamma and other villagers.

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Demand for Mangaluru-Singapore direct flight gains momentum

News Network

September 13,2024

NRI professionals hailing from the coastal and Malnad regions of Karnataka, now based in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Australia, have been urging the Indian government and airlines to introduce a direct flight between Mangalore International Airport (MIA) and Singapore’s Changi Airport.

These professionals argue that Singapore’s strategic location as a hub connecting India with East Asia makes this flight essential. They highlight that this route would serve over 12 million people from the coastal and hill regions of southern India, fostering stronger ties with East Asian economies.

The group, consisting of individuals from Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Shivamogga, and Hassan, is spearheaded by Rajesh H Acharya, director of HQ Connections Pte Ltd, Singapore, and coordinator of the Singapore Tuluver community. Acharya emphasized the significance of the Indian government’s Act East policy, which aims to strengthen relationships between India and ASEAN, East Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region.

“This flight will open new doors for cultural, trade, tourism, and technological exchanges between these regions,” Acharya said.

The Mangalore Chapter of IndUS Entrepreneurs (TiE) has also proposed positioning the region as the 'Silicon Beach of India.' A direct flight would provide greater opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors from both Singapore and Mangaluru, boosting business exchanges.

Moreover, Singapore’s Changi Airport could see increased tourism from the Karnataka coast, while Coastal Karnataka would benefit from a surge in visitors from ASEAN countries, the Far East, Australia, New Zealand, and the US West Coast.

While a similar attempt in 2017 did not succeed, Acharya and his team are hopeful that this time their appeal will be taken seriously, tapping into the immense growth potential of the eastern half of the globe.

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