BJP will launch legal battle against Karnataka govt over bandh: Nalin Kumar Kateel

coastaldigest.com web desk
September 10, 2018

Mangaluru, Sept 10: BJP leader and Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has accused the ruling Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition government of misusing State machinery for forcibly closing down schools, hotels, medical shops and business establishments for the Bharat Bandh in Dakshina Kannada and other parts of the State.

Speaking to media persons in the city here he said that the BJP will take legal action against the State government, which has acted against the law laid down by the Supreme Court.

Mr. Kateel said that the State government has forced officials to close down schools and also stopped operation of KSRTC and private buses. In Mangaluru and Udupi, Mr. Kateel said, the Congress workers stopped autorickshaws taking people to hospitals and also stopped movement of ambulances.

The former district in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai went round different areas in Bantwal with police escort to forcibly close down pharmacies, Mr. Kateel said.

“We are not against parties calling for bandh. But the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) activists have misused the police to forcibly close down pharmacies and stop movement of ambulances. The coalition government has demeaned democracy by its conduct,” he said.

Mr. Kateel said that the coalition government should bear the losses suffered due to the bandh. The police should have arrested those involved in throwing stones at buses and on the vehicle of Bantwal MLA Rajesh Naik U. He asked the State government to take action against activists who he said assaulted BJP activists in Udupi. The police rightly intervened to prevent forcible closure of shops by Congress activists in Puttur, he said.

The way the Congress activists conducted themselves during the bandh led him to suspect that the faction of the Congress that was opposed to the coalition government had worked hard to destabilise the government, Mr. Kateel said.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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