Industrial growth vital for country: Moily

October 29, 2011

Mangalore, October, 29: Reiterating that Mangalore Airport is all set for international tag, Union minister for Corporate Affairs M Veerappa Moily said that a new air traffic control tower cum technical block will be ready for the airport in 18 months.

He was speaking after inaugurating a two day workshop on 'Table Top Airports and Safety Aspects' organised under the joint aegis of the department of Civil Engineering of NITK and Mangalore Airport Diamond Jubilee celebration Committee at Silver jubilee auditorium, Suratkal, here on Saturday.

Mr Moily said that the administrative approval and expenditure sanction for construction of new control tower and technical block at the airport at an estimated cost of Rs 26.57 crore has been obtained.

“Short listing of contractor has been completed and the tender is likely to be issued in a couple of days”, he added.

Industrial Development

Later, speaking to media persons on the side-lines of the workshop, Mr Moiy stated that industrial development was important for the country.

Stating that coastal region of Karnataka is a suitable hinterland for setting up industries considering the infrastructures, the Union Minister said that Mangalore enjoyed air, sea, rail and road transport connectivity together. “Such a privilege is not available for any other part in the state”, he added.

He said that people should not sacrifice the development by opposing the industrial growth.

“If we failed to set up industries in the State youth will have to move abroad for employment”, he reminded.

Responding to a query he said that concern of farmers can be addressed.

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Campus politics: DKS pushes to restore student elections in Karnataka banned since 1989

News Network

November 26,2025

Bengaluru, Nov 26: Karnataka is taking its first concrete steps towards lifting a three-decade-old ban on student elections in colleges and universities. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced Wednesday that the state government will form a small committee to study the reintroduction of campus polls, a practice halted in 1989 following incidents of violence.

Speaking at a 'Constitution Day' event organised by the Karnataka Congress, Mr. Shivakumar underscored the move's aim: nurturing new political leadership from the grassroots.

"Recently, (Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to me and Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) asking us to think about restarting student elections," Shivakumar stated. "I'm announcing today that we'll form a small committee and seek a report on this."

Student elections were banned in Karnataka in 1989, largely due to concerns over violence and the infiltration of political party affiliates into campus life. The ban effectively extinguished vibrant student bodies and the pipeline of young leaders they often produced.

Mr. Shivakumar, who also serves as the Karnataka Congress president, said that former student leaders will be consulted to "study the pros and cons" of the re-introduction.

Acknowledging the history of the ban, he added, "There were many criminal activities taking place back then. We’ll see how we can conduct (student) elections by regulating such criminal activities."

The Deputy CM reminisced about his own journey, which began on campus. He recalled his political activism at Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College leading to his first Assembly ticket in 1985 at the age of 23. "That's how student leadership was at the time. Such leadership has gone today. College elections have stopped," he lamented, adding that for many, college elections were "like a big movement" where leaders were forged.

The move, driven by the Congress high command's push to cultivate young talent, will face scrutiny from academics and university authorities who have, in the past, expressed concern that the return of polls could disrupt the peaceful academic environment and turn campuses into political battlegrounds.

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