Cabinet approves proposal to rename Odisha airport after freedom fighter

NEWDELHI: The Union cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal to rename Odisha’s Jharsuguda Airport after freedom fighter from the state Surendra Sai. The airport will now be known as Veer Surendra Sai Airport.

“Veer Surendra Sai is a wellknown freedom fighter of Odisha. Renaming of the Jharsuguda airport in his name will fulfill longpending demand of the Odisha Government, which reflects the sentiments of the local public of the respective area,” an official statement released after the cabinet meeting said.

The cabinet, in its meeting, also approved an agreement between India and Morocco on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

“The agreement will provide a broad legal framework for bilateral cooperation between India and Morocco in investigation and prosecution of crime, tracing, restraint, forfeiture or confiscation or proceeds and instruments of crime,” another official statement said.

The agreement aims to increase effectiveness in investigation of crimes and prosecution of culprits. The pact will be instrumental helping security agencies gain better inputs and insights in the modus operandi of organised criminals and terrorists, which in turn can be used to fine-tune policy decisions in the field of internal security, officials familiar with the matter said.

According to another government statement, the cabinet was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC), with Russia inked on October 5. The MOU with Russia’s ministry of transport of the Russian federation was signed for cooperation in transport education. The MOC was signed with the Joint Stock Company “Russian Railways” (RZD) on technical cooperation in the field of railways, officials said.