Modi govt grants ‘International’ status to sensitive defence airport for Anant Ambani’s wedding
New Delhi: In a move raising eyebrows, the Narendra Modi government has granted temporary international status to the strategically sensitive defence airport in Gujarat's Jamnagar for just 10 days. This unusual decision is ostensibly to accommodate the arrival of guests attending the wedding of Mukesh Ambani's son, Anant Ambani, to Radhika Merchant.
The international status for the Indian Air Force airport, located near the Pakistan border, is applicable from February 25 to March 5.
Jamnagar airport, situated in close proximity to the Pakistan border, has received international status for the specific purpose of accommodating the influx of guests arriving for the grand wedding celebration. This decision allows the airport to handle international flights during the specified period, enabling direct arrivals for the high-profile event.
Mukesh Ambani, a prominent billionaire and close associate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is hosting numerous guests from around the world for his son Anant Ambani's wedding to Radhika Merchant. The extravagant celebration is expected to draw attendees from various global locations.
According to airport officials, between February 28 and March 4, the Jamnagar airport anticipates receiving a considerable number of aircraft, with approximately 150 expected during this period. Out of these, around 50 flights are slated to arrive directly from foreign destinations. This surge in air traffic is a significant deviation from the airport's usual operations, as it typically handles only a few scheduled and non-scheduled flights on a daily basis.
To manage the substantial increase in air traffic, the Union government's Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Home Affairs have collaborated to establish a Custom, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) facility at the airport. The special arrangements include expanding the size of the passenger building from 475 sq m to 900 sq m, allowing for increased capacity during peak hours. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has expedited the expansion work in preparation for the influx of guests.
Furthermore, the defence airport has been authorized to permit private aircraft access to its sensitive "technical" area for the wedding event. This is a departure from the usual security protocols and highlights the exceptional nature of the arrangements made for this occasion.
To accommodate the surge in visitors, various measures have been implemented, such as the addition of housekeeping staff, increased security deployment, and an expanded workforce for ground handling agencies. The additional staff and resources are aimed at ensuring the smooth operation and management of the airport during this extraordinary period.
It is noteworthy that the Ambani family's company, Reliance Industries, has been granted permission to make special arrangements near the defence airport to receive the dignitaries attending the pre-wedding festivities.
This decision to grant international status to the Jamnagar airport for a limited duration showcases the exceptional preparations made by the government to facilitate the high-profile wedding event. The move has sparked discussions about whether it aligns with Prime Minister Modi's appeal in November 2023 for affluent Indians to 'wed in India.' However, it remains unclear if the special arrangements at the Jamnagar airport are part of a broader policy shift or a one-time gesture extended to the Ambani family.
It is essential to note that this is not the first instance of a government facilitating special arrangements for a high-profile wedding event. In May 2023, South Africa witnessed a similar situation when the government allowed a special charter flight carrying guests from India at the defence airport for the wedding of the son of an Indian-origin billionaire business tycoon close to former President Jacob Zuma. The incident sparked controversy and led to investigations into whether diplomatic privileges had been abused.
With South African and international Press highlighting the ‘political scandal’, the then ruling ANC government issued a statement saying, “The African National Congress, driven by the concern for the safety and sovereignty of South Africa, shall never allow a situation where our ports of entry and National Key Points are penetrated with impunity.”
South African minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane told reporters that an investigation had been ordered and it would also “unearth whether diplomatic privilege had been abused (by the Indian embassy)”.
South African foreign ministry’s chief of protocol Bruce Koloane was also suspended immediately for allowing the Waterklof Air Force Base airport near Pretoria to be used by the Guptas pending the investigation.
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Karnataka Assembly passes bill on Palace Grounds amid opposition protest
Bengaluru, Mar 6 (PTI): The Karnataka Assembly on Thursday passed the Bangalore Palace (Utilisation and Regulation of Land) Bill, reaffirming state ownership over 472 acres and 16 guntas of land here, amid protests by the opposition BJP.
During the discussion, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the state government would have to provide Rs 200 crore worth of Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) for each acre of land, which means that for 15 acres, Rs 3,000 crore worth of TDR would be issued.
“If we accept it, then this 2-km stretch of road will become the costliest road in the world. If we accept it then how are we going to develop the city in later stages? How will you carry out development works?” asked Patil.
He also pointed out that this question was raised not only under the Congress government but also during the previous BJP regime.
However, the BJP-led cabinet has opposed the project.
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“Suppose we agree to it then, what will be the valuation of the 472 acres? It will be lakhs and lakhs of crores of rupees. Can we accept?” Patil wondered.
The Minister said the government had previously exercised its executive powers to issue an ordinance, which was approved by the Governor. Now the government is bringing a bill with two amendments.
“In this bill, we have made provisions either to develop or drop the road development work,” Patil explained.
However, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra and BJP MLA Arvind Bellad opposed the move, alleging that the government was targetting Yaduveer Krishna Datta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the scion of the Mysuru royal family, and the BJP MP from Mysuru-Kodagu constituency out of political vendetta.
“We talk of 472 acres of Mysuru Maharaja but here there are many Maharajas who too own 400 acres, 500 acres and thousands of acres of land, which is known to everyone,” Bellad said.
He slammed the Congress government, saying political power should not be misused for personal vendetta.
“Why (the then Deputy Chief Minister) Siddaramaiah brought the law in 1996 pertaining to the Bangalore Palace? Why are you setting eyes on the Bangalore Palace?” he asked.
Vijayendra charged that Wadiyar won the election on BJP ticket so the state government realised that it should acquire it.
“This bill has been brought for political vengeance. We are not discussing whether Rs 3,000 crore is exorbitant or not but the moment Yaduveer became MP, the state government woke up. You should be ashamed. This house should not be used for political vendetta,” he said.
Intervening, Minister Priyank Kharge said Vijayendra should not have raised it because the intention behind building the road was noble.
According to him, the BJP too had the same plan when it was in power.
He sought to know whether thousands of crores of rupees be spent on a road which should have cost significantly less.
In response, BJP MLA B A Basavaraj (Byrathi) said issuing TDR will not be a burden on the state government and appealed to the ruling Congress to reconsider its stance.
Minister Ramalinga Reddy too explained that the Karnataka government acquired the entire land way back in 1996.
The Mysuru royal family went to the High Court, which gave ruling in favour of the state government. The royal family then approached the Supreme Court, where the case is still going on, the Minister pointed out.
“The final judgment is pending in the SC to decide whether the acquisition was right or wrong. If the SC says it’s the royal family’s property then let it be so. If the order is in the state government’s favour then we can take a decision. The bill is only about it,” Reddy explained.
Speaker U T Khader then called for a voice vote and the bill was passed by the Assembly amidst opposition BJP’s discontent.
