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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National Herald case: Shivakumar to seek time next week to appear before Delhi police
New Delhi/Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said he will ask for time from Delhi police to appear before them next week, to provide required information as part of the probe into the National Herald case.
He said he will seek time after the ongoing winter session of Karnataka legislature ends on December 19. He will also ask the Delhi police to provide him the FIR copy.
Shivakumar, who is in the national capital, had earlier said that he will appear before the Delhi police on Monday. But, he postponed the plan in order to rush back to Karnataka to participate in the last rites of veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, scheduled later in the day in Davangere.
"I had to go (to appear before the Delhi police), but I have to go back urgently. I'm asking them for time, stating that I will come next week," Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi.
"They (Delhi police) have not attached the FIR copy while issuing notice to me. I need FIR copy, because we had already given all the required replies to the ED. I don't know what the FIR says, I only read in papers. They have given notice, I will ask for a FIR copy. I will come next week after the Assembly session."
The Delhi Police had issued a notice to Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief, seeking financial and transactional details as part of its probe into the National Herald case.
The notice issued by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) states that Shivakumar is "supposed to be having vital information" pertaining to the National Herald case registered on October 3 this year, against top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
In the notice dated November 29, the EOW had asked Shivakumar to appear before it or provide the requested information by December 19 latest.
Investigators have sought details about his personal background, his association with the Congress party, and a complete break up of funds allegedly transferred by him or associated entities to Young Indian.
To a question on meeting AICC General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, amid the ongoing power tussle between him and CM Siddaramaiah over the Chief Minister post, Shivakumar said when he comes to Delhi, he usually meets every one.
"Whether it is Surjewala or Kharge (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) or Venugopal, I will meet everyone. During lunch yesterday I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I have met everyone. What's wrong?" he asked.
Shivakumar was in Delhi to take part in Congress' "Vote Chori" rally on Sunday, and had also participated in the lunch organised by the party for its leaders.
Responding to a question, whether any meeting is planned with leaders today, the Deputy CM said, he and Kharge will be travelling together to Karnataka, to pay last respects to Shamanuru Shivashankarappa.
Asked if he will seek time for a separate meeting with Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the next visit to Delhi, Sivakumar said, "such things will be there between us in the party.... you don't worry."
