Karnataka Minister Patil calls Andhra CM's reported HAL pitch 'inappropriate'

Bengaluru, May 26 (PTI) Karnataka Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil on Monday expressed concern over media reports suggesting that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is pushing for relocation of HAL's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) production from Karnataka to his state, and termed it "inappropriate and worrying".


He also demanded that Karnataka be granted a defence industrial corridor, highlighting the state's contribution to India's aerospace and defence sector.
Patil announced plans to meet Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in this connection.



"I'm discussing this with the Principal Secretary and will take it up with the Chief Minister. I will also talk to the Union Minister from our state. In case Chandrababu Naidu has made such a statement, it will be wrong. He can ask for HAL to set up a unit in his state, but in case he has asked for shifting what is there in Karnataka-- there are certain media reports in this regard-- it is inappropriate," he said in response to a question about Nadu's reported proposal.



Addressing reporters here, he said, "Let them (AP) ask for considering them during HAL's expansion, it is natural. But if they have asked for shifting what is there in Karnataka, as reported by the media, and if those reports are true, it is worrying. As far as I know Chandrababu Naidu is someone who understands the system and for him to say such a thing is not right. He wouldn't have said such a thing. If he has said it, it is wrong."



According to reports, Naidu made such a proposal during his recent meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.



Naidu reportedly proposed 10,000 acres of land for HAL's AMCA production facility at Lepakshi-Madakasira hub, which is about an hour away from the Bengaluru airport.



Recalling his request to Rajnath Singh for a defence industrial corridor for the state, the Minister pointed out that in 2022-23 Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu received defence corridors, while Karnataka was more deserving as the state's contribution to India's aerospace and defence sector is 65 per cent.



"We are in the third position globally, despite the defence corridors going to Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and even now we are not questioning as to why they were given, but on merit we should have been given first. I have requested the Defence Minister for a defence corridor to Karnataka," he said.



Despite different governments at the Centre and the state, Karnataka is an integral part of India and in the interest of the country, the corridor should be given to the state that contributes more to the nation's defence sector, he added.



Patil further said he would be visiting New Delhi and try to meet Rajnath Singh again. "Defence corridor is our right, so give it to Karnataka. We will ask for it by merit, not by influence because our contribution is 65 per cent."

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)