Bengaluru, Jul 27: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said the government's decision to rename Ramanagara district as ‘Bengaluru South’ was to utilise the brand of the capital city to give a new direction to next generation and bring development to the region.

Noting that the government was not changing the name of the district headquarter town Ramanagara, he said only that of the district will be changed, which comprises four Taluks – Ramanagara, Channapatna, Kanakapura and Magadi.

“We are not touching Ramanagara (town). Bengaluru is our district. Those living in Ramanagara Taluk, Channapatna Taluk, Kanakapura Taluk and Magadi Taluk are our people. Ours is Bengaluru, not Ramanagara,” Shivakumar, who is Kanakapura Congress MLA, told reporters here.

The Karnataka cabinet on Friday approved changing the name of Ramanagara as Bengaluru South district.

ALSO READ: Karnataka govt. decides to rename Ramanagara district as Bengaluru South

“Today Bengaluru is famous worldwide. Why should we spoil the name given by our forefathers?” Shivakumar pointed out.

The Deputy CM insisted that Ramanagara will remain the headquarters of the proposed Bengaluru South district.

Explaining the reason behind the change of name, he said, “We are thinking about our next generation to give them a new direction, good thoughts, new ideas and their development.”

On Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries H D Kumaraswamy’s statements against the decision, Shivakumar said Kumaraswamy’s politics revolved around wishing for his downfall.

“He (Kumaraswamy) sleeps and gets up thinking of our downfall even though we do good to him. I am aware of his actions, behaviour, sentiments, conduct and thoughts.

Kumaraswamy has slammed the state government's decision to rename Ramanagara as Bengaluru South.

Kumaraswamy was the CM when Ramanagara district was carved out in August 2007 from four Taluks of Bengaluru.

He was also the MLA from the same district.

The Union Minister said, “Shivakumar was an MLA (of Kanakapura constituency) from the same district when the district was formed. Why didn’t he protest in 2007 (when the name was changed). It was done unanimously and no one protested in the Vidhana Soudha.”

Responding to remarks of Kumaraswamy that the name of the district will be changed again when the Congress loses in the next election, Shivakumar said, “It’s not in his destiny. Congress will return to power in 2028.”

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Thane (PTI): Forest officials on Sunday captured a leopard that mauled an eight-year-old child to death nearly a month ago in Shahapur of Maharashtra’s Thane district.

The predator walked into one of the cages set up in the area late Saturday night, ending weeks of panic in several villages in the region, an official from the Dolkhamb division of the forest department said.

"The captured leopard will undergo a thorough medical examination before any further decision is taken regarding its relocation or release," he said.

Senior inspector Suresh Gavit from the Kasara police station confirmed the development, stating that the forest department had successfully secured the animal.

Following the news of the capture, a video surfaced on social media showing a large crowd of villagers, including children, cheering and following the vehicle carrying the caged leopard.

The capture comes as a major relief to the area, which had been on edge since April 16, when the big cat killed an eight-year-old boy.

Krishna Bhaga Agiwale, a resident of Kalbhonde in the Kasara range, had ventured into a forest patch near his house to collect wild fruits when the leopard pounced on him, dragged him into the thicket and killed him on the spot.