Biocon chief questions source of reports claiming that she had offered to repair roads in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on Wednesday questioned the source of reports claiming that she had offered to repair roads in Bengaluru.
She expressed amusement at what she termed "fabricated news."
Shaw was responding to a news article about former Union Minister P Chidambaram’s post on 'X', in which he noted with interest her supposed offer to fund the development of some roads in Bengaluru and highlighted execution issues in public works.
"Kiran Shaw offers to fund Bengaluru road repair, P Chidambaram responds. I am watching with amusement how the media fabricates news. Please ask them to share their source of this info about my offer to repair roads," she posted on 'X'.
Shaw has been critical of Bengaluru’s infrastructure issues on social media and has repeatedly urged the state government to intervene.
On Tuesday, she met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar to greet them on the occasion of Deepavali and assured her cooperation for Bengaluru’s development.
Earlier, Chidambaram had posted, "I noted with interest Mrs Kiran Mazumdar Shaw's offer to fund the development of some roads in Bengaluru. A great offer! Congratulations."
He added, "The problem with our public works is not the lack of public money; the problem is in the execution of the work."
Chidambaram suggested that governments could tweak Shaw’s idea, with public funds and tenders used to select contractors, who would then work under the supervision of a willing company or industrialist.
"The contractor will execute the public work, say a road. However, the supervising company or industrialist will be responsible for the quality and timely execution of the work. Any penalties or cost overruns will be borne by the supervising company or industrialist," he said.
He added that Chennai or Bengaluru could be suitable locations to pilot the idea, tagging Shivakumar and Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin in his post.
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Udhayanidhi accuses BJP of not releasing funds for TN
Gobichettipalayam (PTI): Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Saturday charged the BJP government at the Centre with not releasing funds to the state and accused it of "snatching" TN's rights.
Addressing a poll rally at Gobichettipalayam in the western Erode district, the DMK youth wing chief claimed the Centre has not released funds to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore for education.
"They (union government) have snatched all our rights," he charged.
With regard to the Centre's proposal for delimitation, he said chief minister M K Stalin was the first person in the country to raise the voice against the union government's move. He claimed that it was a "huge victory" for the INDIA alliance, as the bill was defeated for lack of majority after the opposition voted against it in the Lok Sabha.
Listing out various welfare measures implemented by the DMK government, he said the existing "Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai" (monthly financial assistance for women) will be doubled to Rs 2,000 if DMK was voted to power again.
The deputy chief minister charged that the BJP and AIADMK have tried to stall it by moving the court. "At present more than 1.3 crore women have benefited from the scheme", he said.
"Similarly, the breakfast scheme for the government school students will be extended till Class VIII", he said adding "more than 35 lakh college students across the state will be getting free laptops once the DMK government is formed".
Udhayanidhi also pointed out at the "Illatharasi" poll promise, providing Rs 8,000 worth of coupons to non-income tax paying women where they could buy or replace any household appliances of their choice.
Elections to 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 23 and the results declared on May 4 following counting of polled votes.
