
Wed Jul 16 05:23:25 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah scrapped plans to acquire land for an aerospace park near Bengaluru due to farmer protests. Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh seized the opportunity, publicly inviting the aerospace industry to relocate to Andhra Pradesh, citing attractive incentives and readily available land. This sparked a political back-and-forth, with BJP’s Tejashvi Surya endorsing Lokesh’s proactive approach and urging Karnataka to reconsider. Andhra Pradesh has ambitious plans to attract significant aerospace investments, including new defense projects and specialized manufacturing units.
**News Article:**
**Andhra Pradesh Courts Aerospace Industry After Karnataka Land Deal Fails**
**Bangalore/Amaravati -** A political spat has erupted between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh over the aerospace industry after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah halted land acquisition for a proposed aerospace park near Bengaluru. Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh wasted no time in extending an open invitation to aerospace companies, touting his state’s attractive policies and readily available land just outside Bengaluru.
“Dear Aerospace industry, sorry to hear about this. I have a better idea for you. Why don’t you look at Andhra Pradesh instead?” Lokesh posted on X, formerly Twitter, highlighting over 8,000 acres of land and “best-in-class incentives.”
The move comes after Siddaramaiah announced the withdrawal of a notification to acquire 1,777 acres of agricultural land in Devanahalli, citing concerns for farmers’ livelihoods and their ongoing protests. “The land in question is near Bengaluru, actively cultivated, and supports the livelihood of many farmers. That’s why we decided to drop the acquisition,” Siddaramaiah stated.
The opportunity was quickly noted by Tejasvi Surya of the BJP, who said on X, “This is how business is attracted, industry is welcomed and jobs are created. Hope Karnataka Govt learns from @naralokesh garu and correct its course.”
Andhra Pradesh has been aggressively pursuing aerospace investments, aiming to attract between ₹50,000 crore and ₹1 lakh crore to the sector over the next five years. The state has recently announced dedicated aerospace policies and is actively promoting its strategic location and available resources. Lokesh emphasized Andhra Pradesh’s proactive approach, citing offers of land at Re 1 to other top companies to attract investment and create job growth in Andhra Pradesh.