Bengaluru, 16 July

Andhra Pradesh and State are once again in a brawl over aerospace land. Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh invited the aerospace industry to invest in his state after the Karnataka government scrapped the acquisition of 1,777 acres of land in Devanahalli after farmers' protests.

Lokesh tagged a news report on X and said, "Dear Aerospace industry, sorry to hear about this. I have a better idea for you. Why don't you look at Andhra Pradesh instead? We have an attractive aerospace policy for you, with best-in-class incentives and over 8,000 acres of ready-to-use land (just outside Bengaluru)! Hope to see you soon to talk across the table."

In response, State minister for Large and Medium Industries MB Patil said,  “No industry will leave Karnataka, the Minister for Large and Medium Industries said, “Dear Nara Lokesh, Karnataka doesn't just offer land - it offers India's No.1 aerospace & defence ecosystem. We've built the country's strongest aerospace base over the decades, contributing 65 per cent of India's aerospace output and ranking No.1 nationally, 3rd globally."

Noting that it wasn't about land alone - it was about talent, innovation, and a proven ecosystem, he said, "We know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. Nothing is slipping off."

"Karnataka will be one of the first states to reach a USD 1 trillion economy. And it's not just aerospace; many new industries continue to choose Karnataka, and existing ones keep expanding here. We'll always ensure the land and ecosystem needed to support both growth and new investments. Best wishes to your state (Andhra Pradesh) as well," he told Lokesh.

The jabs come after the State government on Tuesday withdrew plans to acquire 1,777 acres of land in Devanahalli taluk following 1,198 days of protest by farmers.

Patil added that State contributes 65 per cent to the country's aerospace and defence sector.

MB Patil, Minister for Medium and Large Industries         

Not only aerospace and defence, whichever industry it may be, whether IT or deep tech or AI, for everyone I am ready to give them the amount of land they require, at the place they want, near Bengaluru itself…. We will not allow a single industry to go out of Karnataka for the sake of land

G Parameshwara, Home Minister

If we are not able to give land in Devanahalli, we will give it at some other place. We will definitely not let the other investors go to other states, such as Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. We will definitely convince them to invest in Karnataka

Santosh Lad, Labour Minister 

You should ask why (Nara Lokesh) tweeted now.... The farmers had a strong opinion that (Devanahalli) land should not be given to anyone else. We have asked farmers to voluntarily give us their land. It doesn't mean the project is scrapped.