Bareilly: The state government’s proposal to change the name of the upcoming civil airport near Trishul air base here has invited sharp criticism from the Bahujan Samaj Party.In 1997, when the foundation stone for the airport was laid, the then chief minister Mayawati had named it Gautam Buddha terminal. The current government has re0named it Nath Nagari terminal.The decision to develop a civil terminal near Trishul was taken in 1996. The foundation stone carrying the name ‘Gautam Buddha Terminal’ is still present at Mayur Chetana garden, located outside Trishul air base.“BJP’s true concern for Dalits, or the absence of it, has been fully exposed through this step,” said BSP Bareilly district president Narendra Sagar.“We are aware of the re-naming, and oppose it. Since we have not received any specific instructions from our party high command, we have not planned a protest so far. I will place the matter with senior party leaders in Lucknow at a meeting next week,” Sagar added.State finance minister Rajesh Agrawal said that any project received its final name only when near completion or after it was finished. “Every new project is like an infant. All rights are reserved with us to christen this civil enclave, as it is going to take shape due to our efforts as well as during the rule of our party,” he said.“Nobody knows when BSP had laid down the foundation stone or given it a name. Neither the BSP nor SP did anything to develop the civil terminal, despite being in power for 20 years,” Agrawal added.

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