The decision of Tatas would have a severe fallout on the state in respect of investments already in the pipeline and the future ones and many a projects would go down the tunnel, Moily told reporters.

He charged that the erstwhile United Front government had sabotaged the project and the present BJP regime perpetuated it.

The former chief minister, during whose regime the airport project took a concrete shape with the contract being awarded to the Tata consortium on inviting global tenders, accused the Centre of adopting "delay tactics" in its clearance and the "lethargy" of the Karnataka leadership in securing it. Moily charged the former prime minister HD Deve Gowda with committing a crime on thestate by not giving stamp of approval for the project when he held the highest office of the country, though he belonged to Karnataka.

Turning to the Karnataka chief minister JH Patel, Moily alleged that Patel was one of the "meekest person" and demanded his resignation.

Moily said that Tatas should not be treated as industrialists coming to seek political favours by the state when other states were ready to roll out red carpets to them.

He lamented that it was unfortunate that though Karnataka had two union civil aviation ministers, it could not secure the green signal for the airport project.

When his attention was drawn to the fact that the consortium had already spent a huge amount on preliminary works on the project, near Devanahally, Moily said the Tatas should file a suit to recover the amount so that at least the government learns lessons from such an experience and politicians would not play mischief. Meanwhile, Patel has said that the Karnataka government will pressure the Centre to clearthe proposed airport project. He further said that the promoters of the project, the Tata-led consortium, had not sent any official communication regarding their withdrawal from it.

Speaking to the media here on Friday, a day after the consortium confirmed its decision to pull out, Patel said he spoke to union civil aviation minister Ananth Kumar on Friday morning and requested him to talk to the Tatas to reconsider their decision.

"We will convince the Centre that we need an international airport," he added. Kumar informed Patel that he would try to hold talks with the Tatas.

Kumar further told the chief minister that the Tatas had only informed the press about the withdrawal and they had not officially communicated to the aviation ministry.

According to Patel, "as far as our government is concerned, we are still firmly backing the project," he said.

If need be, he would meet the prime minister in this regard and added that he would also talk to the union defence minister George Fernandes, who isvisiting the state later this month on July 19.

Patel further said there was no official communication from Ratan Tata or Tata Industries regarding the pull out. "Some time back Ratan Tata sent an emissary to me and delivered a letter in which he explained the delays caused by many people including ministers," he said.

"Tata's fear was that the project would no longer be viable but the communication did not give any indication that the Tatas were going to withdraw," Patel said.

The Tata-led consortium had confirmed on Thursday that it was pulling out of the project on grounds of lack of viability and that it was a joint decision of the consortium - Tata Industries, US-based Raytheon and Changi Airports Authority of Singapore. The Tata's also said they ruled out rethinking on the project.