BJP MP demands renaming of Bhuj airport

Ahmedabad, Jul 21 (UNI) BJP MP from Kutch P S Gadhavi has demanded that Bhuj airport be named after Kranti Guru Pandit Shyamji Krishna Verma against the backdrop of the recent decision to rename Lucknow airport after Chaudhary Charan Singh.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today, Mr Gadhavi expressed his surprise and shock over the government's decision to rename the Lucknow airport. He said in the letter that he had made repeated requests to Minister of Civil Aviation Praful Patel to name Bhuj airport in memory of late Kranti Guru but he was told by the Ministry that the existing policy of UPA Government was to retain names of cities for domestic airports.

He informed the Prime Minister that as per information he had received under the provisions of RTI Act, 17 airports of the country were renamed after eminent leaders. He said he had failed to understand what was preventing UPA Government from renaming the Bhuj airport after Pandit Verma, who was the pioneer and father of the freedom struggle.

Mr Gadhavi reminded Mr Singh that at the time of inauguration of renovated Bhuj airport, the then Minister of Civil Aviation Rajiv Pratap Ruddy in the presence of state chief minister Narendra Modi had assured that the Bhuj airpot would be renamed after late Verma.

Before the procedural formalities were completed, UPA Government came to power and it has been neglecting the sentiments of people of Gujarat, he alleged.

He has, therefore, requested the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter and satisfy the feelings of people of Gujarat.

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