THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said the state government would exert pressure on the Centre for restoring the embarkation point for Haj pilgrims at the Karipur international airport. The government was of the strong stand that the airport should have to be developed. “We are ready to acquire land for the airport’s development,” he said here at a meeting with Muslim association representatives.
As far as land acquisition is considered, he said there was now less opposition from the people. Moreover, he said the Civil Aviation Ministry has shown interest in developing the airport, he said.
In the meeting, Pinarayi also said most of the recommendations of the Paloli committee had been implemented. Noting there was a threat to secularism at the national level, he said it was high-time that everyone stood against the forces trying to shatter the secular fabric of the country. Pinarayi said terrorism should not be tolerated and should be opposed at all levels.
The Chief Minister said the government did not consider the ban on cattle slaughter as an issue pertaining to a single community. This is an encroachment into the freedom of the people, he said.
Wakf Board chairman Sayed Rasheed Ali Shihab Thangal, Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar, Kerala Nadvathul Mujahiddin leader T P Abdullah Koya Madani, MSS president Fazal Gafoor and others were present.