Mangalore: Oscar Fernandes, MP and PV Mohan, AICC member met Salman Khurshid, Union external affairs minister and gave a memorandum and discussed the need for establishing a passport issuing office in Mangalore. Oscar appraised the difficulties and inconveniences for people of coastal Karnataka and adjoining districts like Chikmagalore, Kodagu and Shimoga in getting passport and in dealing with passport- related issues.

Oscar said the demand for a passport office in Mangalore is a long pending issue of the people of this region as large numbers of NRIs travel frequently and there is sizeable population with overseas employment. Mangalore Airport has been upgraded into international airport recently and it is a centre for Haj pilgrimage. Though there is a Passport Seva Kendra here, people of this region have to depend on Bangalore for their passport.

The memorandum highlighted that the present Passport Seva Kendra is receiving almost one and a half lakh applications every year, which is three times more than the criteria prescribed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee for the establishment of a passport office. Since a decade, Social Action Group for empowerment is pressing for a passport office here, Mohan convener of SAGE said adding Khurshid said the demand will be seriously considered.-DH News