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Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president D K Shivakumar has said the present Congress government, unlike the previous one also led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, will not succumb to public protests against development projects, especially under his watch as the Bengaluru Development Minister.
In the remarks, made on Tuesday in Hassan, Shivakumar pointedly referred to the previous Siddaramaiah-led Congress government (2013-2018) giving in to protests against the construction of a steel flyover in the heart of Bengaluru in 2017.
“The previous Siddaramaiah government set out to build a steel bridge but the CM and (K J) George (the then Bengaluru Development Minister) had backtracked after criticism over allegations of corruption in the project, saying they do not want to go ahead,” he said at the celebration of the birth anniversary of Bengaluru’s founding father Kempe Gowda.
“If I were in their position, I wouldn’t have backtracked but would have gone ahead with the project. I will take some decisions now as well, and I am not saying I won’t do anything. Let all those who want to oppose and protest get ready. They can protest as much as they want, but I will keep going forward,” Shivakumar said.
The Deputy CM was referring to a multi-crore steel flyover project between Ballari Road and Kempegowda International Airport Road that was proposed by the previous Congress government but had to be abandoned following public protests over its cost — Rs 1,350 crore — as well as because of the projected ecological damage from the cutting of over 800 trees.
The Siddaramaiah government yielded to the protests surrounding the #SteelFlyoverBeda campaign, involving many civic groups, even though the Congress at the time alleged a BJP hand in the protests. The state government eventually cancelled the project in 2017 in the wake of the protests, an interim stay given by the National Green Tribunal, and corruption allegations by the BJP.
“We did not receive a single rupee as a kickback in the project. The BJP alleges that there was a Rs 65 crore kickback, which is allegedly mentioned in a diary. But this is completely false,” then Bengaluru Development Minister and current Energy Minister K J George said at the time.
The project, initially intended to be built from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal flyover, was extended to Esteem Mall on the same stretch. The government organised several meetings and discussions with the public and Opposition parties to clear doubts but later dropped the project in its entirety.
The Karnataka Congress chief on Tuesday said he intends to leave behind a legacy of contributions to the development of Bengaluru and that he was in the process of devising more plans for the purpose. “We do not believe there is any prestige in building statues but in carrying out development. We believe in development. I will not say that others have not done anything — they have done what they could in their capacity. We are looking at all issues — water issue, garbage, etc.,” Shivakumar said, taking a subtle dig at the BJP’s spree of installing statues during its 2019-’23 tenure.
“We contribute 42% of the country’s IT exports, but get only 17% in return from the Central budget. People who are educated in Bengaluru are placed all over the world. Those who get above 80% marks in exams will go abroad, and only those with marks below 75% remain in the city,” Shivakumar said.
“I was the power minister earlier, and I have a left mark in that sector. Whether people accept it or not, it appeals to my conscience. Now I want to do something for Bengaluru. I am very passionate about this, so I’ve taken the responsibility of the Bengaluru Development Minister with a lot of earnestness,” he said. “I’m holding discussions to resolve issues. Many people are offering their advice. Some are suggesting the broadening of roads, others for underpasses. Still, others want flyovers,” he said.
Taking a dig at Siddaramaiah, BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya tweeted, “Basically, D K Shivkumar is telling that Siddaramaiah is no good as an administrator or even as Chief Minister. It has not even been a few months and internecine war, between the two factions, threatens to paralyse the Karnataka Govt. 5 Guarantees have also not been implemented.”
Following the election victory last year, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar staked a claim to the top job in the state. With numbers not on his side, Shivakumar was convinced to step aside after several rounds of talks and Siddaramaiah became the CM with the Congress high command’s backing. Both leaders have put forward a united front since then but the BJP has claimed it is time before cracks appear in the Congress government.
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