Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DC)

Mangaluru, Jul 2: A message on WhatsApp that says 'Mangaluru's international airport is now named as Koti- Chennaya international airport' is going viral for the last few days.

However, airport officials clarified that the message is indeed a fake one.

"Some fake forwards are circulated in WhatsApp once again in connection to change of name of Mangaluru international airport. As per the fake news, Mangaluru international airport has been named as Koti-Chennaya international airport. The pranks still continue to circulate which really damages the image of the airport. Do not circulate the fake message." said an official.

Real photo

Fake photo circulated in social media

A similar message was circulated earlier on Facebook by a page named 'Billawas Pride' requesting to rename the airport after Koti and Chennaya, two legendary heroes of Tulunadu.

It may be recalled that Billawa community members from the Dakshina Kannada district recently requested to rename the Mangaluru airport as 'Koti Chennaya airport'. Several Billawa community leaders along with Chittaranjan Kankanady, president of committee of the Brahma Baidarkala Garodi shrine offered prayers at the shrine in Kankanady June 27.

Chittaranjan Kankanady on the occasion said that they have decided to submit a memorandum to the MLA, MLC, airport authority and the Prime Minister urging them to rename the airport after legendary heroes of Tulunadu, Koti and Chennaya. Billawa leader Ravi Poojary Chilimbi, Jitendra Suvarna, Vasanth Poojary and Sanjeev Poojary were present.

The history of Koti-Chennaya dates back to the 6th century. Koti and Chennaya are two historical personalities who struggled for social justice and equality in society. The ideology of Koti-Chennaya is not reserved for any one community but it is for the whole society.