On October 27th, we have yet another Hartal. “The dawn-to-dusk Hartal will be observed in the districts of Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram and Palakkad,” league state general secretary P K Kunhalikutty told reporters.
I have rarely understood the cause of any past Hartals and always looked at it as one more trouble that Political party’s often subject the poor public. But for the first time, I and I am sure almost all those who frequently used Calicut airport, shall provide their whole hearted blessings to the IUML sponsored Malabar Hartal tomorrow. This is the first time a political party seems to have come to protest against a clearly understood and appreciated cause.
Calicut airport has indeed been turned into a hell and I put the blame squarely on Air India’s monopolistic grip on this otherwise fine airport. Right from the minister for aviation, our own central ministers like Antony, Vayalar Ravi, and E-Ahmed has to share that responsibility for non accomplishment of the request for allowing more foreign airlines to operate.
Gulf ‘Malabaris’, (that’s how the whole of Keralites are known in the UAE) would offer their full support for Malabar Hartal. I and my family had a recent personal story to narrate about one of the worst kind of misery in this connection. You may read that story here… ‘Calicut – A Flight of Chaos’.
I wonder what our three ministers in the center are doing for us Gulfites from the Malabar region in the issue of Karipur Airport being monopolised and its services made to become a laughing stock, by Air India. See what Tamil Nadu ministers has achieved for Coimbatore. They got international flights to operate to a place where few people fly on such routes like Gulf. Just like how they got the Selam division done, they get what they want and that’s called thinking about own people and place. this is not about chauvinism. You are elected to serve your people who are suffering. We are not worried that their ministers are thinking about their people and place. Our worry is that our ministers are looking the other way.
While Kochi, Trivandrum, and even little known Coimbatore is making great strides in flying to the Gulf, one of the busiest airports in India which is said to be much busier than Pune airport, receives the worst treatment by the Ministry of Aviation as well as the now ‘dreaded’ Indian carrier Air India. Minister first asked for longer runway to allow foreign flights, when that was provided, it was a larger Airport terminal that he wanted. Now that’s also done. What more do you want, not so respectable Praful Patel?
All of you know, what we are going through in Calicut’s Karipur International Airport. There is no need to explain each and every problem. It is an unimaginable set of problems for an ‘International’ labeled airport. Various cause of trouble there is in the news everyday and more on the rainy days. I suppose our KSRTC buses and Indian railway trains have better reliability.
At the moment, IUML is doing the right thing. State of affairs at Karipur airport is one of the biggest concern for those ‘Malabaris’ trying hard to make ends meet in the tough conditions in the Gulf. When they finally fly home on a vacation and those who fly back to join the job back in time, they have to endure their worst nightmares at this airport.
I am still opposed to the concept of ‘Hartal’ which does nothing more than cause immense trouble to the common public. Also, how far it will help move those who hold power towards a favourable decision is unclear. However the suffering of millions of Keralites from this part of Kerala is so great that i wished for a solution by hook or crook. Foreign flights are needed today for Calicut airport; not tomorrow. Respected minister, Mr. Patel, don’t give me any more reasons like that ‘latest radar system’, ‘even longer runway’ or a yet another ‘new terminal’.
Let us hope IUML does not stop with one agitation and that they persist in doing what it takes so that our long drawn suffering comes to a conclusion finally. Let me make the reason clear for asking for foreign flight, and that’s Air India. Be aware, the national carrier – you are simply hated in Malabar.
