‘Rename Hubballi airport after Rayanna’

BELAGAVI: Former CM Siddaramaiah said he will put pressure on chief minister H D Kumaraswamy to send a proposal to the Centre to name Hubballi airport after freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna.
He was speaking after the laying foundation stone for various development works including Krantiveer Sangolli Rayanna Memorial Sainik School at Sangolli, the birthplace of Rayanna in Bailhongal taluk on Tuesday evening.The proposal to name Belagavi airport after Kittur Rani Channamma, which was rejected by the Centre, will be sent again, Siddaramaiah said.
Siddaramaiah had sanctioned Rs 267.67 crore during his last budget to the Sangolli Rayanna Kshetra Abivruddhi Pratisthana for various development work at Rayanna’s birthplace, Sangolli, and the place where he died, Nandagad in Khanapur taluk.
Sainik School is going to be established on 100 acres in Sangolli besides a rock garden, Kalyan Mantap and Yatri Nivas. In Nandagad, a world class museum (Veera Bhumi) will come-up depicting the journey of Rayanna besides rejuvenation of lake where Rayanna used to bathe.
Siddaramaiah said that seven others from the Jain, Valmiki and Lingayat community were hanged by the British along with Rayanna in Nandagad adding to the historical importance of the place. The former CM instructed authorities to complete all work by the next year and half.
Cooperative minister Bandeppa Kashempur, forest minister R Shankar, MLAs H Vishwanath, Mahantesh Koujalagi, Satish Jarkiholi, Anjali Nimbalkar, Mahantesh Dodagoudar, MLC HM Revanna and Niranjananadapuri Swamiji of Kaginele Kanaka Gurupeetha were present.