Massive rally demands Navi Mumbai airport be named after D. B. Patil
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Thane: Thousands of people took part in a massive car rally from Bhiwandi to Navi Mumbai on Sunday, urging that the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport be named after the late farmer leader D. B. Patil.
The rally was led by NCP (SP) leader and Bhiwandi MP Suresh Mhatre. Members of the Agri-Koli community from Thane, Raigad, Palghar, Mumbai, and Navi Mumbai have long demanded that the airport carry Patil’s name, recognising his work for farmers and project-affected communities.
“The Maharashtra government has already sent a proposal to the Centre to name the airport after D. B. Patil, but the Central government has delayed the decision. This has created unrest among the Bahujan community. To draw the Centre’s attention, this rally was organised,” Mhatre said in a release.
He warned that protests would intensify if a “wrong decision” is made and threatened to obstruct the airport’s inauguration ceremony.
With PTI inputs