Congress will consider framing law for Sabarimala: KC Venugopal

TNN

April 15, 2019

If voted to power, the Congress will consider framing a law for Sabarimala that will uphold the belief of the faithful, said AICC general secretary K C Venugopal.

Speaking at the ‘Indian Vottu Varthamanam’ organized by Kesari Memorial Journalists’ Trust here on Sunday, he said that the Centre which kept silent when the court pronounced its verdict, was now saying that it will try to convince the court. “There was no restriction for the Centre for intervening in Sabarimala. When the Muthalaq Bill lapsed in Parliament, the Centre could pass an ordinance in a matter of days. In the case of Sabarimala too the Centre could have intervened. The mere dissent of one of the judges who pronounced the Sabarimala verdict itself is enough reason for the Centre to intervene,” he said.

Venugopal said the BJP and the CPM were playing an adjustment game in Sabarimala, which is evident from the words of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan that it was the Centre that had asked the state government to impose prohibitory orders in Sabarimala.

“On one hand, the BJP tried to turn Sabarimala to a riot field, while on the other, the Centre instructed the state to impose prohibitory orders, as the chief minister himself has now revealed,” he said. Venugopal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was playing drama by trying to invoke Sabarimala in his speeches in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The Congress leader also slammed the CPM’s stand against Rahul Gandhi’s candidature in Wayanad, and said that it was the Congress and not the CPM that is fighting the BJP in all other states. “There has been several instances when former prime ministers contesting from two seats. If Rahul Gandhi is contesting from a sitting seat of Congress, why is the CPM worried,” he said. The CPM had said that by fielding Rahul in Wayanad, the Congress has sent the message that its opponent is LDF and not the BJP.

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Mangaluru’s public transport revolution: 100 new govt electric buses to end private ‘trip-cutting’

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

• Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

• State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

• Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

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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