Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday asked Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to clarify her stand over reports that Aero India, a biennial air show and aviation exhibition held in Bengaluru, will be moved out of the state capital.
On Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath asked Sitharaman to allow his state to host the Aero India show in October, according to The New Indian Express. The two leaders had launched the first phase of projects under the UP Defence Corridor in Aligarh on Saturday.
“I request the defence minister to hold the Aero India show in UP this time,” Adityanath was quoted as saying. “I promise to provide all facilities and proper arrangement for the mega event. I request the defence minister to make the announcement in this regard soon.”
In response, Parameshwara tweeted: “Reports of Aero India being moved out of Bengaluru are very unfortunate. We have been India’s defence hub since Independence, but under the National Democratic Alliance, we are constantly losing key defence projects and flagship programmes.”
Karnataka Revenue Minister RV Deshpande met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh about the shifting of the venue of the air show. During the meeting, he called the decision to shift the event “very unfortunate”, NDTV reported.
The show is currently scheduled to be held in Bengaluru in February 2019.
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