Karnataka wants Aero India to be held in Bengaluru only

Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday urged Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to hold the biennial Aero India air show in Bengaluru only as Asia's premier aerospace event, an official statement said.

"Kumaraswamy requested Sitharaman to hold the Aero India air show in Bengaluru only in the coming years too as the 2019 and previous 11 editions were held here over the last 22 years," said thestatement after they met at the Chief Minister's home office here.

Thanking Sitharaman for holding the 12th edition of the 5-day international expo here, the Chief Minister said the people of the state and city were happy to visit the air show and witness the static and flying display of over 50 aircraft, including fighters at the IAF's Yelahanka base.

Kumaraswamy's appeal to the Defense Minister came at a review meeting of the air show that concluded in the evening on a high note, with over a lakh of people crowding the venue to witness the metal birds fly and perform aerobatics.

The Chief Minister made the appeal personally as the Defence Minister did not announce dates of Aero India 2021 at the inaugural event on Wednesday though it is has been the practice hitherto and is customary at all international air shows.

Speculation was rife in July-August last year about a change of venue when following media reports that the Defence Ministry was planning to shift the prestigious event to Uttar Pradesh ahead of the general elections.

The massive fire in the air base parking lot on Saturday that gutted about 300 cars and the death of a IAF pilot after two Sury Kiran jets collided in the air and crashed on Tuesday while rehearsing for the flying display were also discussed at the meeting, where IAF and defence ministry officials, state officials and city police were present.

During the meeting the reason for fire at parking place and mitigating measures taken after the incident were discussed, with state Home Minister M.B. Patil who was also present.

"The meeting decided to take precautions while organizing such events in future and measures to mitigate the hardship of the gutted car owners," added the statement.

--IANS

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