MANGALORE: Who gets the credit for the expansion of the Mangalore airport and the construction of the new terminal at a cost of Rs 160 crores? Is it the BJP or the Congress? Such a question arose at the airport terminal inaugural function on Saturday, even leading to an interesting war of words between political leaders seated on the dais.

KPCC President RV Deshpande who first spoke said “The Sonia Gandhi led UPA government was responsible for the development of the Mangalore airport earning it a name as one of the best airports of the nation. This is a Congress achievement.”

Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel who had patiently heard this statement of Deshpande, gave the latter a severe beating when his turn of speech came.

He said “The airport expansion work had been initiated during the tenure of the erstwhile Vajpayee led NDA government,” thereby indicating that it was not a mere Congress achievement. “The credit of airport development does not go to any one particular person. This is not a political function. But a government function,” he said clearly as a reply to Deshpande’s comment.

**

Related news:

1. Airport expansion evacuees picket CM’s car
2. Airport expansion isolates 10 families
3. No harm to Bajpe airport from mining ?!
4. Cong seeks intl status for M’lore airport
5. Bajpe airport : Broken chairs greet visiting room entrants