Hooda threw a tantrum

Chandigarh: Eyewitnesses revealed Haryana Chief Minister BS Hooda threw a tantrum at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the new integrated domestic terminal building at the Chandigarh airport itself and objected to Punjab using ‘Mohali international airport' as the name for the project. He reportedly took Patel aside and lodged his protest. He also called up Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the morning, triggering hectic parleys between Delhi and Chandigarh. The PM then asked Patel to sort out the matter.
Soon, politicians from Punjab, UT and their Haryana counterparts discussed the contentious issue again following which the MoU was reworked and Hooda became a partner. To substantiate their claim, Haryana cited two letters, one written on November 19, 2007, and then on December 7, laying equal claim to the upcoming airport.
"Haryana felt that Punjab was trying to lay its claim on Chandigarh by calling the new facility 'Mohali international airport'," an official present on the occasion said.
A belligerent Hooda was heard saying: "We have as much right on Chandigarh as Punjab. It is the capital of both the states. How could they have unilaterally decided on such a big issue?"
The CM’s political advisor, Varinder Singh, added, "How can they call it 'Mohali airport' by just giving 250 acres of land. We can also give land. It's more a question of legality than of building an airport."
05/01/08 Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jan 2008, New Jan 2008