Kumaraswamy wants investments in Karnataka's tier-2 cities
Bengaluru, Aug 3: To provide relief to a choked Bengaluru busting at seams, Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday told investors to set up their manufacturing units or services centres in tier-2 cities across the southern state.
"I appeal to investors to locate their industries or services centres beyond Bengaluru in tier-2 cities like Mysuru, Hassan, Mangaluru, Hubballi, Belagavi and Kalaburagi for uniform development and job creation," Kumaraswamy told about 100 chief executives of the IT and biotech industry here.
Interacting with the heads of IT and BT sectors at a meeting on the 21st Bengaluru Tech Summit (November 29-December 1), the Chief Minister said his government was committed to encourage investments and job creation in tier-2 cities and towns for all-round growth of the state.
"I have committed to invest Rs 500 crore in the state budget for fiscal 2018-19 to set up skill development centres in tier-2 and tier-3 cities across the state for training our youth, graduating from higher secondary schools and colleges," he asserted.
Assuring the state government's support to the captains of the industry, Kumaraswamy said he would set up a special cell in his office for speedy approvals and enhance the ease of doing business in the state.
"As announced in the state budget on July 5, industrial clusters will be set up in some districts under the 'Compete with China' programme to make farm machinery at Bidar, solar equipment at Kalaburagi, electronic toys at Koppal, garments at Ballari and ALED bulbs unit at Chitradurga," said Kumaraswamy.
As the state is well known for innovation hub, the state government will set up a Karnataka Innovation Authority through a legislation in the next assembly session to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, including floating start-ups.
State Major Industries, IT, BT, Science & Technology Minister K.J. George said on the occasion that the JD(S)-Congress coalition government would support the growth of IT and BT sectors in the state.
State Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge said the state government would soon initiate a programme on rural entrepreneurship for uniform growth in the state.
Karnataka IT vision chairman and Infosys co-founder S. Gopalakrishna, Additional Chief Secretary E.V. Ramana Reddy and IT & BT Principal Secretary Gaurav Gupta participated in the meeting.
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Surjewala slams Pratap Simha’s ‘vile’ remarks on CM Siddaramaiah, demands apology from BJP
Bengaluru (PTI): Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over alleged disparaging remarks made by former Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during an assembly bypoll campaign in Bagalkote.
Simha made the remarks while campaigning for BJP candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath, triggering a political row ahead of the by-elections scheduled for April 9.
Congress has fielded Umesh Meti, son of former MLA late M Y Meti, whose death necessitated the bye-election.
"Pratap Simha's vile remarks about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot have exposed the BJP's despicable politics once again," Surjewala said in a social media post.
Alleging a larger political design, he added, "It is increasingly evident that Pratap Simha’s outburst is driven by desperation," and accused the BJP of using such remarks to target backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and minorities.
The Rajya Sabha member further claimed that the incident reflects a pattern within the party. "This is not one man's madness—it is the BJP’s political culture," he said, adding that the remarks were aimed at "denigrating leaders from marginalised communities".
Referring to past incidents, Surjewala said, "CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar have received death threats in the past, including one from BJP leaders who warned that their bodies would be stuffed into a refrigerator."
The Congress leader also criticised the BJP’s bypoll campaign strategy, alleging "internal contradictions".
He pointed to the party’s use of expelled MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in campaigning despite earlier disciplinary action against him, accusing the BJP of resorting to "abuses and indignities" against opposition leaders.
Surjewala demanded immediate action from the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, state president B Y Vijayendra, and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.
He said they must tender a public apology to Kannadigas, particularly to OBCs, SCs, and minorities, over the remarks, and urged the party to expel Simha if it does not repudiate his statements.
Surjewala also called for legal action, demanding that an FIR be registered against Simha and that strict measures be taken.
Warning of "political consequences", he said the electorate in the bypoll-bound constituencies would respond decisively if the BJP failed to apologise, asserting that voters would "teach the BJP a befitting lesson" in the elections.
There has been no immediate reaction from the saffron party yet.
