Bengaluru: In a heated session at the Karnataka Assembly, Congress MLA Prasad Abbayya proposed the renaming of Mysuru airport to "Tipu Sultan Airport," leading to sharp criticism from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs.
The proposal was part of a broader discussion about the state government's request to the Centre to change airport names.
The BJP MLAs, angered by the suggestion, protested, triggering intense arguments between the two sides. Despite the opposition, the Karnataka Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution recommending the union government to rename four airports after prominent historical figures.
According to the resolution, Hubballi airport will be named after Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna, Belagavi airport after Kittur Rani Chennamma, Shivamogga airport after Rashtrakavi Dr. KV Puttappa (Kuvempu), and Vijayapura airport after Sri Jagadjyoti Basaveshwara.
Infrastructure Development Minister MB Patil announced that these new names would be proposed to the union government for approval.
The controversy surrounding Tipu Sultan, a Muslim ruler, has been a recurring theme in Karnataka politics. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in an event on October 13, praised both Kittur Rani Channamma and Tipu Sultan, highlighting them as inspirations for the fight for self-respect. This statement added fuel to the ongoing debate.
Tipu Sultan's legacy has been a divisive issue in Karnataka, with the Chief Minister's decision in 2016 to celebrate Tipu Sultan's birthday as "Tipu Jayanti" facing backlash. The BJP, which came to power in 2019, subsequently scrapped this celebration.