HD Kumaraswamy slams Karnataka govt for 'blocking' industrial projects, cites 'political jealousy'
Mandya (Karnataka), Apr 7 (PTI): Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H D Kumaraswamy, on Monday expressed disappointment over being "prevented" from working in Karnataka, alleging that the Congress government in the state was obstructing his efforts out of "political jealousy".
He was speaking at the consecration and Kumbhabhishekam ceremony of the newly installed idols of Lord Siddhi Vinayaka and Nagadevata at Handanahalli village in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district.
"The people of Mandya have elected me as their Member of Parliament, and I am grateful for their trust and blessings. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has entrusted me with the Heavy Industries and Steel portfolios in his Cabinet. I am working hard to bring one or two industries to Mandya, Ramanagara, or Tumakuru districts. However, the state government is not extending its support," he alleged.
In a statement, Kumaraswamy said that the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company is one of the state’s proud industrial establishments, with its main plant located along the coastal belt of Mangaluru.
He alleged that despite failing to provide jobs to thousands of locals, the Congress government led by Siddaramaiah—which was in power until 2018—collected funds and granted permissions even after mining activities in Kudremukh had ceased.
"Although they collected crores of rupees for mining allocations, no mining took place for years. Without mining, iron ore couldn't be supplied to the factory," he alleged.
According to Kumaraswamy, once he took charge as Union Steel Minister, officials informed him of the state's obstruction and that Kudremukh required funds to restart mining in Ballari.
"I signed the proposal to provide Rs 1,700 crore in financial support and sent it to the Finance Ministry. As Steel Minister, I signed it first with the intention of doing good for the state. However, the state government, out of political jealousy, obstructed it," he claimed.
Further, he added, "Because of this, 2,000 employees at the Mangaluru plant lost their jobs. Ultimately, for the benefit of these people and the state, I decided to merge Kudremukh with NMDC (National Mineral Development Corporation)."
The Union Minister further alleged that the state government was "politicising the development of HMT and creating hurdles".
Recalling the support extended by neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Kumaraswamy cited the example of the Vizag Steel Plant.
"Chandrababu Naidu met me several times to discuss reviving the plant. He participated in many meetings. Leaders from that state, cutting across party lines, submitted demands to me. Isn’t that kind of commitment worthy of appreciation? But here, in our state, how fair is it to mix politics with development? Who ends up suffering? The youth—because they are being denied jobs. Who is responsible for that?" he asked.
He accused the state government of playing politics even in matters of development.
"They’re not just failing to cooperate with their political opponents—they’re not even supporting the good work being done. If this continues, how will industries ever be established in the state?" Kumaraswamy asked.
Assuring the people of Mandya that he would meet their expectations, he said villages should remain as peaceful as they once were, and that "auspicious events and religious programmes should rise above party politics".
"Political interference should not seep into rural development activities. When I think of our childhood, I still get emotional. We had no facilities and very limited technological advantages. Yet, people lived in harmony, with love and mutual respect. That atmosphere is now lost—we are becoming increasingly narrow-minded," Kumaraswamy claimed.
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South zone finalists announced at WAVES VFX challenge in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: The South Zone round of the WAVES VFX Challenge took place today in Bengaluru, organized by the Association of Bangalore Animation Industry (ABAI).
The day-long competition brought together talented participants from across southern India, with the goal of selecting top finalists who will go on to represent the region at the national finals next month during the WAVES Summit in Mumbai.
Finalists were selected in three categories:
Student Category
Winner: Soumya Das
Runner-up: Gagan HP
Professional Category
Winner: Mohamad Javeed
Runner-up: S Sai Chandan
Enthusiasts Category
Winner: Gagan Ajai
Over 1,500 entries were received from students, working professionals, and VFX enthusiasts, all centered around the theme “Super Hero Power.” Out of these, 14 entries were shortlisted to compete in today’s final round. One winner and one runner-up from each category were chosen to represent the South Zone in Mumbai.
ABAI Secretary R.K. Chand appreciated the strong participation and encouraged industry professionals to attend the Mumbai summit, which will host well-known personalities from films, advertising, and creative sectors. He also mentioned that the WAVES Challenge was recently launched in Bengaluru by Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The event was inaugurated by Dr. Sagar Gulati, Director of the School of Creative Design and Information Technology at Jain (Deemed-to-be University), the zonal partner for the competition.
The day also featured two special sessions led by industry experts. Vijay Selvam from the global VFX studio MPC held a masterclass titled “Concept Reality,” where he discussed lighting, animation, compositing, and photorealistic effects. Students got the chance to interact with him during a Q&A session.
Another session was conducted by Rakesh H, Lead Head at The Mill, who spoke about how visual effects are used in advertising. Nearly 100 students attended these sessions, gaining valuable industry insights and learning opportunities.
