Name Bangalore airport after Basaveshwara: Karnataka MPs

New Delhi, Dec 14 (UNI) A group of Karnataka MPs have written to Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to name the new international airport at Bangalore as 'Basaveshwara International Airport', recognising the contributions of the great 12th century saint-philosopher of Karnataka.

In their letter to Mr Patel, the MPs said that they had received many representations from the public that this new airport should have the name of Basaveshwara, who heralded a social revolution in the state. ''We are happy about the pace of work taking place at the airport and it would only be appropriate that it is named after Basaveshwara,'' the MPs said.

The signatories were Mr P C Gaddigoudar, Mr G M Siddeshwar, Mr Suresh Angadi, Mr Ramesh Jigajinagi, Mr K B Shanappa, Mr Ananth Kumar Hegde and Mr Majunath Kunnur.

Mr Angandi said that many more MPs from all parties were ready to sign the memorandum but they could not be contacted before the letter was despatched to the Union Minister. The Minister had called up the MPs to inform that he had no reservations about naming the airport in the name of Basaveshwara, if the Prime Minister were to give his nod.

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