'Why don’t you look at AP instead?': Nara Lokesh says after Karnataka drops land acquisition for Aerospace Park near Bengaluru airport

Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh (File image)

Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh on Tuesday invited aerospace investors to his state after the Karnataka government dropped its plan to acquire land for an aerospace park near state capital Bengaluru.

In a post on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Lokesh pitched Andhra Pradesh’s “attractive aerospace policy” and ready-to-use land bank as a better alternative to Karnataka and Bengaluru.

Lokesh shared Moneycontrol article on Karnataka government’s decision, and wrote: “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 8,000 acres of ready-to-use land (just outside Bengaluru)! Hope to see you soon to talk across the table.”

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…

— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) July 15, 2025

BJP's Bengaluru South MP used Lokesh's tweet to target the Siddaramaiah government for missing the opportunity to strengthen Karnataka’s aerospace sector.

Surya wrote: "This is how business is attracted, industry is welcomed and jobs are created. Hope Karnataka Govt learns from @naralokesh garu and correct its course. CM @siddaramaiah must show political will to establish this aerospace park in Bengaluru. Bengaluru is India’s aerospace capital. We are the city of HAL, NAL, DRDO, ISRO, and many private companies including Airbus, Boeing and other startups. Let’s double down on our legacy."

This is how business is attracted, industry is welcomed and jobs are created. Hope Karnataka Govt learns from @naralokesh garu and correct its course.

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CM @siddaramaiah must show political will to establish this aerospace park in Bengaluru.

Bengaluru is India’s aerospace… https://t.co/QNa0miWmxM

— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) July 15, 2025

Apparently bowing down to opposition from farmers, Siddaramaiah admitted that while industrial development is important in regions close to Bengaluru where land is needed for new industries and capital investment, his Congress government is committed to safeguarding the interests of farmers.

“The state had initially planned to acquire the land to establish an aerospace park. However, the prolonged agitation-one of the longest and most intense against land acquisition in Karnataka-prompted the government to reconsider. The land is fertile and central to the livelihoods of local farmers,” the Karnataka CM added.