Bengaluru, July 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, on Tuesday claimed that the renewal of the licence of the Government Flying Training School (GFTS) at Jakkur by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was a victory for public vigilance and the BJP's sustained opposition to the state government's alleged attempts to relocate the institution.
In a statement, Ashoka alleged that the government had sought to dismantle one of India's oldest flying training institutions for developing a sports complex. He claimed that the BJP had raised the issue in the Assembly and opposed any move to shift the flying school from Jakkur.
"The DGCA has renewed Jakkur Flying School's licence for the next five years (2026-2031), and flying operations are set to resume. The proposal to shift the institution has been pushed back, and Bengaluru has retained a priceless aviation asset," Ashoka said.
Describing the development as more than a routine licence renewal, the BJP leader termed it "a victory of public vigilance over political greed" and alleged that attempts were being made to free up prime public land for real estate interests by removing aviation-related restrictions in the area.
Ashoka said the institution, established on land donated by the erstwhile Mysore royal family and linked to a legacy dating back to the tenure of late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, should be preserved as an important public and aviation asset.
He further alleged that there was a pattern in the handling of public land in the state, citing issues related to KSIC and the Jakkur Aerodrome. According to him, the BJP had consistently opposed moves that it believed threatened public institutions and heritage sites.
"The message is clear: Bengaluru is not for sale. Karnataka's public institutions are not a land bank for politically connected builders," he said.
Ashoka added that the BJP would continue to oppose any attempt to sacrifice public land and institutions for vested interests and would remain committed to protecting Karnataka's heritage and public assets.
He said the development was a victory for citizens, aviation professionals, students and others who had supported the campaign to retain the flying school at Jakkur.
It can be noted that the state government has proposed to construct an international sports complex at the 205-acre Jakkur Aerodrome in north Bengaluru. The proposal — still at the conceptual stage — is expected to sound the death knell for the JFTS, a heritage aviation institution inaugurated in 1949.
Following the Cabinet decision, the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports — which is the custodian of the aerodrome — was entrusted with preparing the plans for the sports complex and submitting a petition to the High Court outlining the government's proposal.
Source: IANS
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