Rail-Oil, Airports; Everything Will be Sold, the Slogan Will be - 'I Will not Sell the Country'

Recently, the Central Government decided to hand over six airports in the country, including Thiruvananthapuram to private players. The Modi government's decision to hand over the highly profitable Thiruvananthapuram airport to the Adani Group has sparked widespread opposition and a controversy. The Kerala government company was also a contender, and said that if the Center is intent on handing over the airport to someone else, it would be better to hand it over to the state government which has experience in running the airport. However, the airport was given to the Adani Group on a 50-year lease. Many more airports, and oil-rail-phones are in line to be mopped up by different private entities. Such a stream of privatisation would hardly have been seen in a self-respecting and independent country. It is as if the government got an opportunity due to the COVID-19 disaster. Senior journalist Urmilesh assesses these decisions.