Akanksha KhushiKerala Assembly Passes Resolution Against Leasing Of Airport
On Monday, Kerala Assembly ‘unanimously’ passed a resolution demanding the withdrawal of the Union Cabinet’s decision to lease out the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to Adani Enterprises.
The Chief Minister of the state Pinarayi Vijayan while moving the resolution said that centre should reconsider its decision. He also mentioned that for the past two years, Kerala has been opposing the privatization move but still the airport is being handed over to a private entity ignoring the state’s protest.
The leader of opposition in the assembly Ramesh Chennithala has also supported the resolution. The only representative of BJP in the House O. Rajagopal walked out of the house. BJP had organized a protest outside the assembly demanding the Chief Minister’s resignation for his involvement in the gold smuggling case. The protestors alleged that Rajagopal was not allowed to speak.
In February 2019, government owned Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) had participated in the bidding for the airport but Adani Enterprises won by quoting the highest bid. The Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri criticized the state's move and said that it is not right to oppose after losing the bid.