The clarification follows reports earlier this week which claimed that Naidu had offered 10,000 acres of land in the Lepakshi–Madakasira region of Anantapur district as a potential site for relocating HAL’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) units.
Published May 28, 2025 | 7:58 PM ⚊ Updated May 28, 2025 | 8:06 PM
The Chief Minister asserted that his efforts were directed towards attracting new investment and boosting regional development within Andhra Pradesh.
Synopsis: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has firmly denied claims that he requested the relocation of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited from Karnataka, stating such institutions “can’t and shouldn’t be moved.” Speaking at the Telugu Desam Party’s Mahanadu conclave, he clarified that his appeal to the Centre was solely for setting up a new defence manufacturing hub in Andhra Pradesh’s Rayalaseema region.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday, 28 May, denied claims that he sought the relocation of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) from Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking at the Telugu Desam Party’s annual Mahanadu conclave in Kadapa, Naidu clarified that his request to the Centre focused solely on setting up a defence manufacturing hub in Andhra Pradesh, and not on shifting any existing institutions from other states.
“I never asked for the HAL located in Bengaluru to be shifted to Andhra Pradesh. It’s a massive, strategic facility – such institutions can’t and shouldn’t be moved. I have never sought the relocation of any project from one region to another, and such an idea is not part of my history,” the Chief Minister said.
The clarification follows reports earlier this week which claimed that Naidu had offered 10,000 acres of land in the Lepakshi–Madakasira region of Anantapur district as a potential site for relocating HAL’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) units.
Responding to the reports, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had shot down any attempt at such a move.
“We will not allow any Navaratna companies or established defence units to be taken from Karnataka. HAL was not given to the state by the BJP government. It is because of the technical talent and scientific community here that Bengaluru became the base for the aviation and defence sector since Jawaharlal Nehru’s time,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
Naidu emphasised that Lepakshi in Anantapur district is well-suited for establishing aircraft manufacturing and other defence-related industries.
“I had earlier highlighted Lepakshi’s potential, but unfortunately, some politicians in Karnataka misunderstood this as an attempt to shift HAL to Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
The Chief Minister asserted that his efforts were directed towards attracting new investment and boosting regional development within Andhra Pradesh.
He had recently met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to request the establishment of a defence manufacturing hub in the Rayalaseema region.
“The Telugu Desam Party is synonymous with development. We never oppose progress, nor do we believe in taking away projects from other states,” he said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
