Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 03: Congress leader and businessman T.S.G. Bhaskar is leading the peaceful protest near Veer Savarkar International Airport against soaring airfares and reduced air connectivity, but he has stressed that his participation is not in a political capacity.
Bhaskar said he has joined the protest as an islander and businessman affected by the ongoing air connectivity crisis. He pointed out that the impact of high airfares is being felt across the economic spectrum, from larger businesses to small vendors and ordinary citizens.
The protest has brought together people from different sections of the island community, including businesspersons, tourism stakeholders and common citizens. Several organisations and committees are also represented at the gathering, with participants emphasising that they are attending primarily as individuals affected by the airfare and connectivity situation rather than as representatives of their respective organisations.
“Whether it is a big businessman or a small vendor, everyone is affected,” is the central sentiment emerging from the gathering, as protesters highlight how expensive and limited air travel is affecting both their personal needs and livelihoods.
Participants said reduced flight availability and rising ticket prices have made mainland travel increasingly difficult for islanders who need to travel for medical treatment, education, business and other essential purposes. At the same time, tourism-dependent stakeholders say fewer visitors and cancellations are affecting their incomes.
The protesters have also chosen to wear black as a symbolic expression of their dissatisfaction with the prevailing situation. The black attire is intended to underline their unhappiness over what they see as the continuing deterioration of air connectivity and the sharp increase in airfares.
The protest is taking place as a Parliamentary Committee visits the islands and is scheduled to depart today. Protesters are seeking to use the occasion to draw the attention of policymakers and senior authorities to an issue they say affects virtually every section of the island economy.
Bhaskar’s participation has added a prominent voice to the demonstration, while his emphasis on participating as a businessman and affected islander reflects the broader nature of the gathering.
The protesters maintain that the issue should not be viewed through a political lens. For them, affordable and reliable air connectivity is an essential requirement for an island territory geographically separated from the mainland.
The gathering is therefore seeking not merely immediate relief from high fares, but a long-term solution that can ensure adequate flight connectivity and affordable air travel for islanders, while also protecting the tourism and business ecosystem that depends on a steady flow of visitors.
