The sudden decision of the NDA government to withdraw permission to the Indian Air Force to conduct Air Show at Visakha Utsav commencing on Friday kicked up a controversy.
In fact, the Air Force teams had already landed in Visakhapatnam and had been conducting trial air shows as part of Visakha Utsav for the last few hours.
However, on Friday morning, the teams received a message from the Centre to return to their bases, as the permission given to the air show was cancelled.
It was a big embarrassment to Telugu Desam Party government headed by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, as Air Show by the air force teams is one of the biggest attractions for the visitors. The spectacular air show had been part of the Visakha celebrations every year.
However, there was no reason given by the Centre for the abrupt cancellation of the air show this year.
Apparently, Naidu’s belligerent stand against the Centre in general and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular is believed to be the reason for the decision.
There is also a talk that Naidu’s refusal to extend protocol to Modi on the latter’s proposed visit to Guntur on January 6 also angered the Central government. Modi has since cancelled the tour.
Naidu alleged that the cancellation of air show at the eleventh hour was part of vindictive politics of the Modi government against Andhra Pradesh.
He wondered why the Centre had cancelled the permission after the air force teams conducted few trials in this regard.
“Why is the Centre not treating AP as a part of the country?” he asked.
