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Bengaluru, Oct 29 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying “BJP is not concerned about development in Bengaluru and raised questions on the previous BJP government when they were in power in the state.”
The Deputy Chief Minister said, “BJP leaders are not concerned about the development of Bengaluru. What did they do for the development of the city when they were in power?”
Shivakumar is also the current Bengaluru Development Minister.
The Deputy Chief Minister made this comment while talking about various issues while answering media questions at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office in Bengaluru.
Asked about BJP MP Tejasvi Surya’s statement opposing the tunnel road project in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said, “I am not a technical expert and neither is he (Tejasvi Surya). That is why there is a separate team of technical experts for this purpose. He is suggesting that a suburban rail project should be started – let it be done, there is nothing wrong in it.”
“But the required funds should be provided by the Central government. Our own leader, Union Minister V. Somanna is a Union Minister; he should extend his support and get the funds sanctioned. They (BJP) can do whatever they want, even protest – who has stopped them? Apart from Tejasvi Surya and R. Ashok, leader of opposition in the state Assembly, no other BJP leader is even speaking on such issues,” he remarked.
When asked whether the Tunnel Road project in Bengaluru would collapse like the Steel Bridge project, he replied, “We are doing our part. People are seeing our commitment and supporting our efforts. We are confident that our project will be implemented.”
Regarding the so-called ‘November Revolution’, discussion of change in the post of Chief Minister and the demand for a Dalit Chief Minister in Karnataka, Shivkumar said, ‘I appeal to everyone not to tire themselves by speaking unnecessarily on such matters.’
When asked if Congress leader Rahul Gandhi would visit Karnataka on November 20 to lay the foundation stone of the new Congress office, he said, “The date has not been decided yet. I have made the request. Documents related to the land for the construction of the party office are being prepared. The Congress high command has asked for a report on which ministers, MPs and district Congress presidents have shown interest in the project and who have not. I am preparing that report and will send it to them. After that, they will decide the date.”
Speaking about the meeting held at the KPCC office regarding the selection of candidates for the upcoming Legislative Council elections, Shivakumar said, “There are around five to six contenders for tickets from each of the graduate and teacher constituencies. The candidates will be finalized within the next eight to 10 days. In the next meeting, we will discuss with party MLAs and district in-charge ministers to seek their opinion before taking the final decision.”
–IANS
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