The Karnataka government has withdrawn plans to acquire 1,777 acres of farmland in Devanahalli, near Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, for a proposed aerospace park. The decision follows almost 1,200 days of protests by local farmers who argued the land is fertile and critical to their livelihoods. Seizing on the reversal, Andhra Pradesh Information-Technology Minister Nara Lokesh publicly invited aerospace companies to shift their projects to his state. Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh has a dedicated aerospace policy, “best-in-class” incentives and more than 8,000 acres of ready-to-use land just outside Bengaluru, adding that parcels could be offered for as little as 99 paise per acre. Karnataka’s Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil dismissed the invitation, saying the state contributes 65% of India’s aerospace output and ranks third globally in the sector. Patil pledged to identify alternative sites for investors and insisted “not one industry will move out of Karnataka for want of land.” The exchange underscores growing competition among Indian states to attract high-value manufacturing and defence projects. Industry executives have yet to indicate whether they will pursue Andhra Pradesh’s offer, but analysts note that established supply chains and skilled talent around Bengaluru remain a strong draw even as cost-conscious investors weigh new incentives elsewhere.