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Defence
Ex-Air Chief AP Singh urges Rajnath Singh to retain Race Course land for IAF
✍️ TOI India
🗓 03 Nov 2026, 05:53 PM
👁 3
Former Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, urging him to ensure the Race Course land remains under the control of the Indian Air Force.
Former Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has intervened in the ongoing debate regarding the disposal of the historic Race Course land in New Delhi. In a letter addressed to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the retired military chief has urged the government to keep the property under the direct control of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The former chief’s communication highlights the strategic and administrative importance of retaining the land within the military domain. By writing directly to the Defence Minister, AP Singh has sought to influence the decision-making process at the highest level, emphasizing that the land should not be transferred to civilian authorities or sold for commercial purposes.
This move comes amid significant political and legal scrutiny over the future of the 120-acre Race Course land, which has been a subject of contention for years. The IAF has consistently argued that the land is essential for its operational requirements and training facilities. AP Singh’s letter adds a senior military voice to the argument for retaining the asset for national security purposes.
The intervention by a former top-ranking officer is expected to draw further attention to the issue, potentially influencing the final decision of the government regarding the land's ownership and usage.
The former chief’s communication highlights the strategic and administrative importance of retaining the land within the military domain. By writing directly to the Defence Minister, AP Singh has sought to influence the decision-making process at the highest level, emphasizing that the land should not be transferred to civilian authorities or sold for commercial purposes.
This move comes amid significant political and legal scrutiny over the future of the 120-acre Race Course land, which has been a subject of contention for years. The IAF has consistently argued that the land is essential for its operational requirements and training facilities. AP Singh’s letter adds a senior military voice to the argument for retaining the asset for national security purposes.
The intervention by a former top-ranking officer is expected to draw further attention to the issue, potentially influencing the final decision of the government regarding the land's ownership and usage.