THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Lulu group chairman M A Yusuff Ali has said that he has no links in the controversy over Thiruvananthapuram airport’s development project and has appealed not to drag his name into the issue. He also said that it was the central government which decided to hand over the rights to run the Thiruvananthapuram airport to Adani group.

“The state government of Kerala has taken a stand against the central government on this issue and I have no role in this issue. I haven’t applied for the rights to run the airport. From the functioning and better performance of other important airports in the country, it is evident that private participation is essential for the development and renovation of airports. I wish that Thiruvananthapuram airport should grow in a similar way. There are 19,600 shareholders in CIAL-run airport at Nedumbassery including me,” he said.

He also said that there are 8,000 shareholders in Kannur. Anybody can buy its share anytime. The logic of dragging me alone into this controversy is not understood, he said.