BJP says Mopa to be renamed Manohar Parrikar International Airport

PANAJI: The Manohar International Airport, which was inaugurated last week by PM Narendra Modi, will now be named the Manohar Parrikar International Airport, said BJP’s Goa desk in-charge C T Ravi.
Responding to a comment that “lots of people” wanted the airport to be named Manohar Parrikar instead of just Manohar, he said, “I am also of the same opinion. Manohar means Manohar Parrikar... We will give Manohar Parrikar’s name to the airport... The PM has also said that and will put up his photo there. We will keep the name Manohar Parrikar airport, there is no dispute.”
BJP held a core committee meeting in Panaji to discuss various issues. “We discussed strengthening organisation and governance,” he said.
He also said that cabinet reshuffle is the prerogative of the chief minister, and the party just gives suggestions. “There was no discussion on the cabinet reshuffle at the core committee meeting,” Ravi said.
He said that it is the party’s aim to take care of the people of Goa, and that the eight recently-joined Congress MLAs are also happy. “None of the eight MLAs told me that they are not happy with the party,” he said, adding that they will be given responsibilities as per their capacity.
Speaking on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute, Ravi said that BJP is a national party and the matter is in court. There are no differences within the party, he said.
“We are not here to divide. We want to unite. There is a border dispute but at the same time there are cultural relations between both states. There is no different culture, but the language is different... 50% of the words are common. We will work together,” Ravi said.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that BJP has started preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and the same was discussed at the meeting. Sawant said that a detailed discussion was held on the party’s programme over the next two months. “We will continue to be in touch with people, and in view of the Lok Sabha election, we will increase our connect with the people,” he said.