'UP capable of hosting Aero-India'

After Union Minister Ananth Kumar said that Uttar Pradesh lacks the infrastructure to conduct the Aero Show, Aviation Minister of the State, Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, on Tuesday averred that his state is capable of hosting the show.

He said, "Uttar Pradesh is the birth land of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna. We have everything here. We are conducting something as massive as Kumbh Mela, we are also capable of making arrangements for Aero Show."

According to media reports, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to hold the event in his state stating that the endeavour will benefit the defence production there.

Amid speculations of the Aero Show being shifted to Uttar Pradesh from Bengaluru, Union Minister Ananth Kumar on Tuesday said that no decision has been taken by the Defence Minister on the venue for the conduction of Aero Show for 2019 and added that Uttar Pradesh lacks the infrastructure needed to conduct the show.

Ever since its inception in 1996, Bengaluru has been playing host to Asia's biggest air show.

Reports about shifting the venue have triggered a public spat between the Congress and BJP.

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday also wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, seeking his approval to conduct the show in Bengaluru.

"Bengaluru being the hub for defence and aviation majors of the country, is certainly the most suitable place to conduct the show," he said in the letter.

Aero India is a biennial air show and aviation exhibition held in Bengaluru at the Yelahanka Air Force Station. It is organised by the Defence Exhibition Organisation under the Ministry of Defence.