Kozhikode: MK Raghavan MP, has declared that he will stage a strike demanding that the Prime Minister intervene in the restoration of service of wide-bodied aircraft and reinstating the haj embarkation point, in Karipur airport. As the first phase of his strike, he will go on a 24-hour hunger strike, he told a news meet here.
The hunger strike will be from 9 a.m. on July 12th until 9 a.m. on July 13th at a venue in Kozhikode city. The strike will be inaugurated by PK Kunhalikutty MP.
Wit the ban on Code-E aircraft in Karippur, which had been ranked sixth in revenue among airports in the country, has been relegated to the 16th place in number of passengers and to the 12th place in cargo volume.
He alleged that the Central Government, Airport Authority and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have been adopting a negative approach towards Karippur at the same time when lacs of expatriates in the Gulf have been banking on this airport. The airport which functions quite profitably in the public sector, has suffered due to the vested interests of some invisible hands, that have been trying to destroy it.
If permission is granted only to Code C type of aircraft, what was the use of spending crores of rupees to construct 11 PCN (Pavement Classification Number) runway, he wondered. The Airport Authority had stated in its own order that once the runway expansion is completed, the service of wide-bodied aircraft would resume. But the current stance is one that throws all such assurances into the wind.
Citing the risks of table-top runway and strip which had caused accidents in other places, authorities have denied the haj embarkation point status to Karippur, whereas it was allowed for Mengaluru where an accident had actually taken places. Raghavan highlighted this as a paradox.
Raghavan said that the hunger strike of July 12th is only the first phase, and in the second, he will sit in an indefinite hunger strike.
The press meet was also attended by UDF District Chairman Advocate P Shankaran, Convenor KA Raszack Master, DCC President Advocate T Siddique and other district leaders of the UDF.
Meanwhile, PK Kunhalikutty MP said that he will meet the prime minister during the next Parliament session against the neglect of Karippur airport. He said he has asked for an audience with the PMO for this, and added that he would go to any extent politically and legally for the airport.
Kunhalikutty also recalled that when there were no funds available for starting the airport, it was Muslim League that had initiated fund-raising including from abroad and for the formation of Madac (Malabar Airport Development Action Committee). He was talking to mediamen while at Kozhikode Town Hall.