Gaya, Dec. 7: The state government’s proposal to rename the Gaya international airport after Lord Buddha has invited demands from a section of people in the city to include the name of Lord Vishnu as well.

Convener of Prabuddha Nagrik Parishad, Gaya, Brij Nandan Pathak has sent a memorandum to Union civil aviation minister Vayalar Ravi to add the name of Lord Vishnu to the proposed name of Gaya international airport.

The Assembly and the Legislative Council unanimously passed a resolution last week to rename the Gaya international airport as Bhagwan Buddha international airport. A proposal has been sent to the Union civil aviation minister in the matter.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar has said he would take up the issue of renaming the airport with the Centre.

In the memorandum, Pathak has said Gaya is famous across the world for the Vishnupad Temple. “Hindu pilgrims from across the country and abroad arrive here to perform pinddaan rituals for the salvation of the souls of their ancestors. The number of Hindu devotees visiting Gaya round the year is more than 10 lakh. During the 17-day Pitripaksh Mela, more than three lakh devotees come to Gaya to perform pinddaan rituals.”

“We have respect for all religions and it is a welcome step to name the Gaya airport after Lord Buddha. At the same time, Lord Vishnu should not be forgotten. At present, mostly international flights are being operated from the Gaya airport. Flights to Delhi and Varanasi have also started operating from Gaya this year. Demands have also been made for operation of more domestic flights connecting different cities. As there is a proposal to develop the Gaya airport as a state airport, more domestic flights are likely to be introduced. Devotees arriving at Gaya to offer pinddaan will also take these domestic flights. So, equal respect should be accorded to Lord Vishnu and Lord Buddha by renaming the Gaya airport after Lord Vishnu and Lord Buddha,” Pathak has stated in the memorandum.

The Bihar Assembly, on Monday last, proposed to rename the Gaya international airport after Lord Gautam Buddha to commemorate the 2600th year of his enlightenment and boost international tourism in the state.

The Gaya airport is barely 5km from the Mahabodhi temple. It was set up to cater to over 70 crore followers of Buddhism living in different countries across the globe. Thai Airways, Sri Lankan Airlines, Mihin Lanka and Drukair operate regular flights during the tourist season from the Gaya airport.