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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BS Yediyurappa appeals to MLA Yatnal's group to work unitedly to strengthen party
Bengaluru, Nov 26: With a group of Karnataka BJP leaders led by Bijapur MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal holding a parallel agitation over the waqf issue, veteran party leader B S Yediyurappa on Tuesday accused them of doing it because of their "self-conceit", and appealed them to work unitedly to strengthen the party.
The former Karnataka chief minister also said that everyone should take the responsibility for the party's defeat in the Assembly bypolls for three segments, even as the BJP's performance is being seen as a "setback" for his son and state president B Y Vijayendra.
"State president B Y Vijayendra has appealed to Basangouda Patil Yatnal and others to stop protesting separately, and work with us unitedly. Despite this, because of their self-conceit, they are doing such things. It is not right on their part," Yediyurappa said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "I appeal to them at least now to come forward and cooperate to strengthen the party together."
When told that they are not willing to work unitedly with the state's current leadership of the party and whether he will bring it to the notice of the high command, Yediyurappa said, "We will do our duty. The rest is left to them and central leadership...high command knows everything. Let's see what they will do."
Yatnal-led group include BJP MLAs Ramesh Jarkiholi, B P Harish, and former lawmakers Aravind Limbavali, Kumar Bangarappa and G M Siddeshwara and others.
The leaders, who had stayed away from the protest recently held by the party on the Waqf issue, on Monday held a parallel agitation over the issue in Bidar. Today, they are in Kalaburagi district.
Yatnal and Jarkiholi have been openly critical of Vijayendra, accusing him of indulging in "adjustment politics" with the ruling Congress, and trying to keep the party in his clutches along with his father Yediyurappa.
Noting that the party had faced a setback in the bypolls for Sandur, Shiggaon and Channapatna, Yediyurappa said, "We accept that. What shortcomings were being discussed in the party. It should be ensured that such things don't repeat."
To a question whether the bypoll loss is being seen as a setback to his son Vijayendra, he said, "It is not a question of Vijayendra or Yediyurappa. The loss in all the three seats is a setback for us (party). Everyone should take the responsibility and see to it that such things don't repeat."
