Late Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel’s son, Bharat Patel, has demanded that the newly constructed Rajkot International Airport in Hirasar be named after his father, who was the two-time Chief Minister of Gujarat.
Mr. Patel said the airport should be named after his father in recognition of the leader’s contribution to the development of the Saurashtra region.
Supporting Mr. Patel’s request, Rajya Sabha member and corporate leader Parimal Natwani wrote to X, “I support Bharat Patel’s proposal to rename Rajkot Hirasar Airport after late Shri Keshubhai Patel. Keshubhai Patel was a prominent leader from Saurashtra and was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. It would be a matter of pride to honor his legacy by naming the airport after him.”
Congress leader Manhar Patel supported Mr. Nathwani and said the BJP government in the state should propose that the new airport be named Keshubhai Patel International Airport. “I want to ask why no BJP leader supported this move? Was Keshubhai not a BJP leader,” he asked.
The state BJP has not responded.
Keshubhai was removed as chief minister in 2001 to pave the way for Narendra Modi. In 2012, he left the BJP and launched the Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) and won the assembly elections from Visavadar. However, before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the GPP was disbanded and its officials merged with the BJP.
Keshubhai died during Covid-19.
Published – 02 Oct 2024, 03:23 AM IST
