KCR, Shivakumar trade barbs over purported letter asking Foxconn to shift its Apple AirPod to K'taka
Bengaluru, Nov 4: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Saturday engaged in a spat over a purported letter by the Congress leader to Foxconn chairman to shift Apple AirPods manufacturing unit from Hyderabad to Karnataka.
Rao alleged that Shivakumar wrote to several national and international companies in Hyderabad to shift their factories to Karnataka.
Shivakumar rubbished the charge saying that the letter based on which Rao made the allegation was fake. He also got an FIR registered at Vidhana Soudha police station against the creator of the fake letter.
The Bharat Rashtra Samiti today accused the Karnataka Congress government, specifically Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, of conspiring against Hyderabad.
"Karnataka Congress government has hatched a huge conspiracy against Hyderabad. Big conspiracy by Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar to move national and international companies from Hyderabad to Karnataka," the BRS said in Telugu on its "X" handle.
The BRS alleged that the letters were written to many companies offering incentives to come to Bengaluru.
"D K Shivakumar wrote a letter to the CEO of the company to move the Foxconn company that manufactures Apple AirPods from Hyderabad to 'Bangalore'. Kannada media released that letter," the message on "X" said.
The party alleged that Kannada and English media have reported that the conspiracy to move companies is real.
"For elections they have targeted Hyderabad. The Congress government in Karnataka is plotting to shift industries from Telangana to Bengaluru. Let's reverse the conspiracies of Congress. Let's bring back our KCR government which has Telangana Pride," the BRS said.
The party also posted the purported letter written by Shivakumar with a green stamp of the Government of Karnataka on top of it, to Young Liu, the chairman of Hon Hai Precision Industry Company Limited (Foxconn Technology Group).
Besides asking Liu to invest in Karnataka, the letter read, "On behalf of our government, I propose that you consider relocating the Apple AirPods industry, which you plan to set up in Hyderabad to Bangalore'."
"This move holds numerous mutual benefits. Not only it will complement the Apple phone manufacturing industry, but it will also leverage the city's transportation facilities, infrastructure, and available workforce," it further said.
The letter said several international industries in Hyderabad have expressed interest in relocating to Bengaluru.
"We anticipate forming a friendly government in Telangana soon, assuring that you will encounter no hindrances there. Hence, it would be mutually beneficial for your ancillary industry to make the move as well," it added.
Shivakumar hit out at Rao for his accusation.
"Today the Telangana Chief Minister had a press conference. He is very scared. He has accepted the defeat of his party," the Karnataka Deputy CM said.
He said Rao posted a fake letter on the micro-blogging site and commented on it.
"It is a fake letter. My letter has different characteristics. My letter has numbers. My letterhead will not be in green colour. It is an ordinary legislator's letter which MLAs used to use some 15 years ago. No MLA is using green coloured letterhead now. I know that," Shivakumar underlined.
According to him, MLAs do not use green coloured letterhead in the Karnataka assembly.
Seeing a conspiracy of the BRS, the Deputy CM said, "I don't know why these BRS people stooped to such a level and the chief minister is commenting on it."
Shivakumar, who is also Congress Karnataka president, said he has asked his secretary to lodge a police complaint at the Vidhana Soudha police station.
"Someone has misused (signature). They have taken my electronic signature and put it on that (letter) requesting Foxconn to be shifted," he claimed.
"It is very unfortunate but the investigation will go on. It was a fake letter. We have not issued such a type of letter," the Deputy CM said.
According to Shivakumar, many multinational companies on their own have shown willingness to invest in Karnataka "looking at this strong government".
In this context, he said he had a meeting with the Toyota executives who wanted to expand their business here.
Lamenting the development, the Deputy CM said, "Our Telangana counterpart need not have to be involved in such a small. I am very sorry for that."
ಆಪಲ್ ಏರ್ ಪಾಡ್ ಉತ್ಪಾದನಾ ಘಟಕವನ್ನು ಹೈದರಾಬಾದ್ನಿಂದ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿಗೆ ಸ್ಥಳಾಂತರಗೊಳಿಸುವಂತೆ ಫಾಕ್ಸ್ ಕಾನ್ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆ ನಾನು ಬರೆದಿರುವುದಾಗಿ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಜಾಲತಾಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹರಿದಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಪತ್ರ ನಕಲಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಈ ಸಂಬಂಧ ಸೈಬರ್ ಕ್ರೈಮ್ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಠಾಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಎಫ್ಐಆರ್ ದಾಖಲಾಗಿದೆ.
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) November 4, 2023
The letter circulating on social media, saying… pic.twitter.com/HZTcTM5f96
ಆಪಲ್ ಏರ್ ಪಾಡ್ ಉತ್ಪಾದನಾ ಘಟಕವನ್ನು ಹೈದರಾಬಾದ್ ನಿಂದ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿಗೆ ಸ್ಥಳಾಂತರಿಸಬೇಕೆಂದು ಫಾಕ್ಸ್ಕಾನ್ ಗ್ರೂಪ್ ಮುಖ್ಯಸ್ಥರಿಗೆ ನಾನು ಬರೆದಿರುವುದಾಗಿ ಹರಿದಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ನಕಲಿ ಪತ್ರವನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿದವರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳುವಂತೆ ಇಂದು ವಿಧಾನಸೌಧ ಠಾಣೆಗೆ ದೂರು ನೀಡಲಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಎಫ್ಐಆರ್ ದಾಖಲಾಗಿದೆ. pic.twitter.com/uKCNWImRRV
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) November 4, 2023
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BJP's Suvendu urges Bengal Guv to order independent judicial inquiry into Messi event fiasco
Kolkata(PTI): Leader of Opposition in West Bengal assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Saturday wrote to Governor C V Ananda Bose, seeking an independent judicial inquiry into “administrative incompetence” and “public humiliation of citizens”at the Salt Lake Stadium here during an event featuring football legend Lionel Messi.
In his letter, Adhikari alleged that the stadium, built with public funds, was converted into a “private durbar” for political elites, resulting in humiliation and harassment of spectators who had purchased tickets.
"I write this communication with a profound sense of anguish, constitutional alarm, and moral urgency. What unfolded at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan was not merely an episode of administrative incompetence, it was a public humiliation of citizens, a grotesque exhibition of unrestrained political privilege, and a direct assault on the rule of law in the presence of thousands of witnesses," Adhikari asserted.
He claimed that football fans were denied basic amenities and dignified viewing due to unchecked VIP presence, obstruction of sightlines, and arbitrary restrictions.
Chaos unfolded at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday, after spectators resorted to vandalism on failing to catch a glimpse of Messi, alleging gross mismanagement by the organisers and obstruction of views by VIPs.
Police arrested the event’s prime organiser, Satadru Datta, while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the constitution of a high-level inquiry committee to probe the incident.
Adhikari, in his letter, held the sports department, police authorities and the minister-in-charge of sports and youth affairs responsible, alleging that the situation was “enabled, if not orchestrated”, by the state administration.
He claimed that the conduct of the authorities reflected indifference to public accountability and misuse of power.
The senior BJP leader also took exception to the inquiry committee announced by the chief minister, contending that it lacked independence and credibility.
Adhikari said the panel is headed by Justice (Retd) Asim Ray, who currently holds a statutory post under the administrative control of the state government, and includes senior bureaucrats whose actions are under scrutiny.
"This committee is structurally compromised, legally infirm, and morally indefensible," he said in the letter to the governor.
Adhikari urged Bose to exercise his constitutional authority to order the formation of a truly independent inquiry committee.
He proposed that the committee be headed by a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court, and assisted by persons of unimpeachable integrity with no institutional, administrative or political affiliation with the state government.
“The issue transcends football, politics, and personalities. It concerns the right of citizens to be treated with dignity, the obligation of the state to act as trustee of public interest, and the duty of constitutional authorities to intervene when the executive becomes a law unto itself,” Adhikari said.
Later, speaking to reporters, he accused the state government of mismanaging the situation at Salt Lake Stadium, and demanded the resignation of the CM.
Adhikari said all those responsible for the fiasco should be arrested, and spectators must be provided refunds.
He alleged that senior Trinamool Congress leaders and their associates crowded around Messi, leaving thousands of fans at the stadium deprived of catching a clear glimpse of the football star.
“This was a case of misuse of power at the cost of ordinary citizens. The chief minister must take moral responsibility, those responsible for the incident should be arrested, and every fan who was cheated must get a refund,” Adhikari asserted.
He added that public anger would not subside without accountability and corrective action.
