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June 24 marks the 12th death anniversary of D B Patil, a respected figure among PAPs and the Agri-Koli community.
To mark their protest and pay tribute to Patil, a massive car and bike rally has been planned for 24th June.(Photo: Mumbai Live)
As the grand opening of Navi Mumbai International Airport nears, emotions are running high among Project Affected Persons (PAPs) demanding that the airport be named after their leader, Dinkar Balu Patil.
Members of the Agri-Koli community – whose land and livelihoods were taken for the airport project – have issued a strong warning: if the airport isn’t officially named after Patil by 24 June, they will resume their agitation, as per Hindustan Times.
Why 24 June Matters
The deadline isn’t random – 24 June marks the 12th death anniversary of D B Patil, a highly respected figure among PAPs. Although the airport is over 90 percent complete, and agreements are being signed with airlines, the central government has yet to make a formal naming announcement, despite earlier resolutions by the Maharashtra government.
History of the Dispute
The naming controversy started when the Uddhav Thackeray-led state government suggested naming the airport after Bal Thackeray. This triggered a wave of protests from the PAPs. Later, the Mahayuti alliance, in its very first cabinet meeting, passed a resolution to name the airport after D B Patil – a decision approved by both houses of the state legislature and sent to the Centre. But the Centre remains silent.
When PM Narendra Modi and then Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia visited the site in early 2024, they did not mention the issue. Even assurances made in October 2024 by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, have led nowhere.
Rally as a Show of Strength
On 24 June, thousands of PAPs are expected to join a massive car and bike rally in memory of Patil and as a show of protest. “No name, no flight,” warned former Panvel deputy mayor, Jagdish Gaikwad. “We feel ignored in every project, even Atal Setu.”
BJP MLA Prashant Thakur has reassured that the airport will be named after Patil, once the infrastructure is ready. But community leaders say they’ve heard enough empty promises.
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c…Read More
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c… Read More
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