Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bengaluru, Congress MP D. K. Suresh has fired a fresh salvo at the BJP central leadership by accusing it of casting a shadow on the future of Bengaluru and Karnataka by “consciously” hindering their development to help woo investments to cities in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
Mr. Suresh, the brother of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and seeking re-election for the fourth consecutive time from Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency, alleged that the brand value of Bengaluru has been diminishing in the last 10 years of BJP rule at the Centre.
In an interview with The Hindu, Mr. Suresh, who had earlier remarked that there will be no other choice left but to ask for a separate south Indian country if the Centre continues to ignore this region in terms of devolution of central funds, questioned the contribution of the BJP government at the Centre, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to the development of Bengaluru.
Excerpts from the interview:
Bengaluru city areas like Rajarajeshwarinagar, too, are suffering from depletion of groundwater level as the local authorities have closed down portions of various tanks in the garb of development. Hence, we want to take up a project to inter-link and also fill up 185 tanks in Bengaluru on the lines of tank-filling initiatives in rural areas. The tanks are being identified and DPR is being prepared.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has only shown lip sympathy towards the development of Karnataka in the last 10 years. For example, the Kalasa-Banduri Nala drinking water project has not gone forward despite Supreme Court’s clearance while Upper Bhadra Project has not progressed. The Centre has not volunteered to support Yettinahole drinking water project though Bengaluru city may get two to three tmc ft of water from it.
The PM and people of the entire country know that Bengaluru city, which has provided employment to people from all over the country, is facing water shortage. But they are yet to clear Mekedatu balancing reservoir project which would help tackle Bengaluru’s drinking water problem. Bengaluru has got a raw deal though we are the second highest tax payers in the country.
What is the contribution of the PM for development of Bengaluru? Though they say they have given sub-urban railway, there is no mention about funding from their side. They do not have much contribution even towards Bengaluru Metro as nearly 90% of cost has to be borne by the State.
The BJP central leadership and the Prime Minister are indirectly masking the future of Bengaluru and Karnataka. The city’s brand value has been diminishing every year in the last 10 years of BJP rule at the Centre. They want the cities in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh to develop at the cost of Bengaluru by obstructing its development so that they can woo investments from here. Already, they are forcing companies in Bengaluru to set up units in Gujarat also.
He refers to even small things with concern in his Man ki Baat. But Bengaluru’s water and garbage problems have not attracted his attention. Why should the PM not call a meeting of officers concerned and constitute a high-powered committee along with funding to tackle the city’s garbage problem?
All the IT & BT industries and industrialists have been complaining about Bengaluru city’s traffic woes. But the Centre has done nothing to resolve traffic problem in core areas. While Karnataka got approval for only 1,600 km of national highway in the last 10 years, Maharashtra and UP got approvals for 12,000 km and 4,500 km during the same period.
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Ram Mandir is a symbol. Rama’s temples, hills and religious identifies are there everywhere in the district. If the BJP was so serious, why did it not build a Ram temple in Ramanagara when it was in power? Though they have announced it in their budget, is it possible to get forest clearance to build a temple in a place that houses a vulture sanctuary?