A section of employees under the banner of the Airports Authority Employees Union (AAEU) protested against the privatisation of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Friday by wearing black when Governor P. Sathasivam kicked off infrastructure facilities at its international terminal.
The employees stood at the rear end of the venue when the function was going on. Learning of the protest by the employees and on the advice of the police, the Governor left the venue through the side of the stage.
A strong posse of police personnel was present, in addition to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel who guards the airport terminal and premises. The protesting employees, including women, of the AAI dispersed soon after the function was over at 12.30. The AAEU has been organising dharnas every afternoon on the airport premises since December 4, 2018, against the move to privatise the airport. Minister for Tourism and Devaswoms Kadakampally Surendran and local legislator V.S. Sivakumar, though invited for the function, did not turn up. Mr. Surendran reportedly did not turn up in protest against not inviting Mayor V.K. Prasanth and the councillor concerned.