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Ex-Air chief wrote to Rajnath, urged him to keep Race Course land under IAF control

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Before stepping down, former Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh directly petitioned Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to halt the takeover of the 40-acre sports complex at the Race Course Air Force Station. The abrupt sealing by the Land and Development Office disrupted operations and forced the cancellation of the outgoing Air Chief Marshal's farewell event. Pointing to a 2014 joint survey, the IAF insists the site's three distinct land segments must remain under military control to support base functionality. The dispute coincides with broader state evictions in the area, including actions against the Delhi Race Club and the Jaipur Polo Ground.

Key points

  • The Indian Air Force maintains that the Race Course base provides vital counter-threat ae…: The Indian Air Force maintains that the Race Course base provides vital counter-threat aerial security for the nearby Prime Minister's residence.
  • Citing a 2014 joint survey, the air service requested an immediate cancellation of the se…: Citing a 2014 joint survey, the air service requested an immediate cancellation of the sealing process across all three station land segments.
  • The confrontation forms part of a broader government campaign to reclaim prime parcels, i…: The confrontation forms part of a broader government campaign to reclaim prime parcels, including the Jaipur Polo Ground and Delhi Race Club.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

The sealing of the facility, which includes a golf course, swimming pool and other amenities, also led to the cancellation of a planned farewell for the outgoing Air Chief Marshal.

NEW DELHI: Days before retiring as chief of air staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh wrote to defence minister Rajnath Singh, raising concerns over the sealing of the Indian Air Force's (IAF) sports complex at the Race Course Air Force Station in New Delhi.In a letter dated October 26, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh urged the defence minister to ensure that the over 40-acre land parcel remained under the Air Force's control, news agency PTI reported, citing people familiar with the matter.AP Singh also raised the issue during an in-person meeting with Rajnath Singh on October 29, three days before his retirement on October 31. He sought the minister's intervention after authorities under the ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) sealed the sports complex, triggering concern within defence circles, as reported by PTI.The sealing of the facility, which includes a golf course, swimming pool and other amenities, also led…

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