Hyderabad: Yet another issue has been added to the already strained relationship between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments following the Centre’s decision to rename the domestic terminal at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport after N.T. Rama Rao.
The two governments are already at loggerheads over power distribution, river water sharing, holding of Intermediate exams etc.
The TRS government, which moved a resolution against the Centre’s decision in the Assembly, is of the firm view that AP Chief Minister Mr Chandrababu Naidu has influenced the Centre to name the domestic terminal to have an upper hand over Telangana.
For a change, TRS and the Congress, which were at loggerheads over the defection of MLAs, joined hands over the issue along with MIM and Left parties, isolating the Telugu Desam.
Meanwhile Congress MP V. Hanumantha Rao, former minister Danam Nagender and other Congress leaders, who staged protests at Shamshabad Airport opposing the Centre’s decision, were arrested by the police.
On the other hand, TD leader M. Narasimhulu and other TD leaders have decided to sit on deeksha at NTR Ghat on Saturday in support of renaming the airport terminal after NTR.
“Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed his life for the country. Let Naidu name the airport in Vizag after NTR. Naidu, who had organised a chappal attack against NTR, is now shedding crocodile tears,” said Mr Hanumantha Rao.
The TRS government will send a delegation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union civil aviation minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju soon.
Meanwhile Decision to name Airport after NTR taken in '99: Raju
Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju rejected the criticism of naming the domestic terminal at Hyderabad International Airport after former CM N.T. Rama Rao, saying the decision was taken in 1999.
“In 1999, the government took a decision, both at the state and Central level, that the Hyderabad International Airport would be named after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and domestic terminal after NTR,” he said.
