Why buy a new car before wedding, can’t you use public transport?: Shivakumar’s dig at Tejasvi Surya
Bengaluru: The political confrontation over the state government’s ambitious tunnel road project has intensified, with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar taking a swipe at Bangalore South MP L.S. Tejasvi Surya, questioning his decision to apply for a new car before his wedding while urging citizens to reduce car usage.
“He asks people not to travel by car but he had applied for a new car before his wedding. We can release his application if you want. Why did he need a new car? Why can’t he travel by metro or bus as he advocates?” Deccan Herald quoted Shivakumar as saying.
Responding to the BJP’s signature campaign against the tunnel road project, Shivakumar said the Opposition should make constructive suggestions instead of resorting to political attacks.
Shivakumar maintained that the tunnel road project is a public initiative, not a personal one, asserting that if Bengaluru can have an underground metro, there is no reason it cannot have a tunnel road. He added that all necessary studies had been conducted before finalising the project.
Shivakumar reiterated his readiness to form a committee under Opposition Leader R. Ashoka, comprising members nominated by the BJP, to review the tunnel project.
“I am not a fool to destroy Lalbagh. I know its history and what areas are being used. The BJP opposes every development project. They even opposed the steel flyover during (then Bengaluru development minister) K.J. George’s time,” he said.
Addressing questions on expanding metro and suburban rail networks, Shivakumar challenged BJP leaders to secure additional funds from the Centre. He also ruled out the possibility of a Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in Bengaluru, citing a failed experiment in Hubballi-Dharwad and a lack of space in the city.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Sunday that the tunnel road project would benefit not only car users, but also bus commuters, two-wheeler riders and pedestrians. He described the BJP’s opposition to the project as politically motivated.
"The BJP is opposing it for political reasons. Why should there be opposition to a project aimed at resolving traffic problems? Similar tunnel projects have been implemented in many countries, and people there have not opposed them," Siddaramaiah said.
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CM launches poster campaign 'Justice for Karnataka'
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday released nine posters as part of a campaign: ‘Justice for Karnataka. Fair Share–Strong Federalism’ asking the Centre to heed state's demands.
These posters highlight key demands placed before the Finance Commission: Restoring Karnataka’s fair tax share; correcting unjust income, population and GSDP criteria; ensuring fair disaster and ecological support; strengthening decentralisation; providing dedicated infrastructure support for Bengaluru; supporting backward regions like Kalyana Karnataka; and upholding the constitutional spirit of cooperative federalism, Siddaramaiah said.
In a statement, Siddaramaiah said his government has placed its legitimate and constitutionally grounded demands before the 16th Finance Commission, seeking justice in tax devolution and fiscal federalism.
“We hope that the 16th Finance Commission reflects these concerns fairly in its recommendations, and that the Union Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi implements them in letter and spirit, without subjecting Karnataka to petty politics or discrimination, as has unfortunately happened in the past,” the chief minister said.
Siddaramaiah underlined that Karnataka is among the country’s highest contributors to national revenues, yet its share in tax devolution was earlier reduced from 4.71 per cent to 3.64 per cent causing a loss of nearly Rs 80,000 crore.
"Flawed formulas that penalise development and population control, unrealistic GSDP calculations, inadequate disaster support, unchecked cesses and surcharges, denial of GST compensation, and non-release of recommended grants have collectively weakened the state’s finances," Siddaramaiah charged.
