Mangaluru, Mar 9: Registering their protest against alleged harassment of the Kerala-based international passengers, especially those hailing from Kasargod by the authorities at the Mangaluru International Airport, dozens of activists from Kerala staged a demonstration on Wednesday.
The protest meet was organised by the Kasaragod district committee of the Muslim Youth League, the youth wing of the Indian Union Muslim League outside the Airport.
The protesters alleged that Emigration and Customs officials at the Airport tortured Kerala-bound passengers by forcing them to wait at the busy airport for hours on the pretext of obtaining travel clearance, besides labelling them as terrorists during the verification process.
Speaking on the occasion P B Abdul Razak, the Manjeshwar MLA, said that the “harassment” tactics of the Airport officials was unacceptable and anti-constitutional. He said that even though people for Kasaragod had fought for the international tag for the Mangaluru Airport condemning Maharashtra's severe opposition to it at the national level, now a few officials are showing step-motherly attitude towards innocent NRIs from Kerala.
He called upon the authorities concerned to consider this issue seriously and sack those who mistreat passengers from a particular place especially during flying to or returning from Gulf countries. “I am also a witness for the offensive behaviour of the officials at the Airport,” he said.
AK Mohammed Ashraf, Muslim Youth League leader Manjeshwar said, that the expatriates from Kasaragod district who work in various Gulf countries, consider Mangaluru Airport as their own because it is the nearest international airport for them. However, for strange reasons they are frequently being ill-treated, abused and harassed at this airport. This should come to an end, he said.
He said that many a times airport officials target poor and first time international travellers, who lack knowledge of the formalities of at the airport. Sometimes innocent passengers are detained and interrogated for hours without any reason, he said.
Mr Ashraf said that even though they complained against the officials to all concerned people from the Airport Director J T Radhakrishna to the Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati the situation has remained same.
Comments
These are not just Muslims. All Malayalese are united regardless of their creed and caste.
They are intelligent people. They never quarrel within themselves.
They will fight for their right and they will win, they will achieve it. They know what to do.
One of India's smallest states, but In the Gulf or anywhere they are 70% of Indian Immigrants. What a strong people.
If you go to Dammam Indian Consular services office, you can see only Keralite staff, as it is Kerala Embassy.
Hats off... Salute, we need to learn from them.
Kerala is 60% Hindus, But still no single BJP seat in Kerala.
Like minded open people.
God bless Kerala, India
How muslim league wake up for this issue now ? Next month election for Assembly in Kerala.
Officials in Mangalore Airport should treat all passenger equally, they should not treat Keralites as others, Even I was once witnessed the time when I was travelling from Mangalore, some officials in Immigration department targeting and torturing Kerala bond youths more than hours!! its a bad taste, at least now they should stop these types of incident. All these happening because some of the officials belonging to RSS family, Officials good behavior also make a good impact to build a strong brotherly India. Jai Hind.
next Kannur Air Port will dominate....
The Director of Mangalore airport deny this truth and he says there may be isolated incidents. The discrimination in the Mangalore Airport is a truth for which I am one of the witness to that, as I have earlier explained in my earlier post.
I am sure The Director may be afraid of these RSS goons or the BJP government in the centre, that he may loose his job if he take any action against erring security or immigration staff.
A protest against this discrimination must come from all quarters so that Mr. Radhakrishna may learn how to administer the Mangalore Airport in acceptable manner to all.
However, security is very much important at all airports not limited to Mangalore Airport.
I support these people. Let Kannur airport start up, i will surely travel to my hometown mangalore through kannur airport.
First of all limited passengers and no international carriers come to mangalore. Half of travellers from kerala travelling through this airport.
Better Mangalore airport authorities get well soon or else it will be too late.
Lunghi Dance, Lungi Dance,
RSS chaddi employees working in mangalore airport ,
The first and foremost thing to do from station manager is to remove all existing custom officers from there and replace them with good officials and that should contain 25% of Muslims officers. Right now all those custom officers are belong to RSS, Bajrangies....
This is how malayalees united unlike us.
Got 3 airport and still want to fly from Mangaluru.
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