‘Should ask why he tweeted now’: Santosh Lad on Nara Lokesh aerospace park pitch

BENGALURU: Labour Minister Santosh Lad on Wednesday assured that the state government will “find a solution” to the land acquisition issue near Bengaluru airport for an aerospace park after Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh made a pitch to aerospace industries to shift the project to his state.

When asked about Nara Lokesh’s tweet, Santosh Lad said, “You should ask why he ( Nara Lokesh) tweeted now”. Santosh Lad said that the government has asked famers to voluntarily give their land and clarified that the project isn’t scrapped.

#WATCH | Bengaluru | On Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh welcoming aerospace companies to the state after farmers’ protest in Karnataka, state Minister Santosh Lad says, “For last 5 decades we have been at number one position in GDP. We will find a solution. The farmers had a… pic.twitter.com/eLpZWzMKkU

— ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2025

“For the last five decades, we have been in the number one position in GDP. We will find a solution. The farmers had a strong opinion that this land should not be given to anyone else. We have asked farmers to voluntarily give us their land. It doesn’t mean the project is scrapped”, he said.

Home Minister G Parameshwara, when asked about Nara Lokesh’s post said, “Andhra Pradesh is providing opportunities for the aerospace industry.”

Meanwhile, Nara Lokesh seized the opportunity after the Karnataka government withdrew the plan to acquire land for an aerospace park near Devanahalli. Pitching to the aerospace industry, Lokesh said that Andhra Pradesh has an attractive aerospace policy with “best-in-class incentives” and over “8000 acres of ready-to-use land”.

“Dear Aerospace industry, sorry to hear about this. I have a better idea for you. Why don’t you look at Andhra Pradesh instead? We have an attractive aerospace policy for you, with best-in-class incentives and over 8000 acres of ready-to-use land (just outside Bengaluru)! Hope to see you soon to talk across the table,” Nara Lokesh said in a post on X.

This comes as the Karnataka government decided to withdraw the plan to acquire 1,777 acres of farmland in Devanahalli taluk, near the Kempegowda International Airport, for a proposed aerospace park. This marks a major victory for farmers who had been protesting against the land acquisition.

In a post on X, Siddaramaiah announced, “In keeping with our commitment to protect farmers’ interests and safeguard fertile agricultural land, the Government of Karnataka has decided to completely withdraw the land acquisition process in Channarayapatna and other villages of Devanahalli taluk in Bengaluru Rural district”. (ANI)