BENGALURU, March 12 -- The Union Cabinet's decision to grant international airport status to Tamil Nadu's Madurai Airport has drawn criticism from Karnataka's infrastructure development minister MB Patil, who on Wednesday said the Centre had ignored similar demands from the state for airports in Hubballi and Belagavi.

"The Narendra Modi-led central government has declared Madurai Airport in Tamil Nadu as an international airport but has not taken a similar decision regarding Hubballi and Belagavi airports in Karnataka. This reflects a discriminatory approach and is not acceptable. How can it be butter for them and lime for us?" Patil said in a statement. He added that the Centre's approach raised concerns, noting that Karnataka had sough...