Whether I go to the Kumbh Mela or not is matter of personal belief: Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Feb 5 (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said his plans to visit the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, was part of his personal beliefs and devotion and that no one had the right to question them.
Shivakumar was responding to remarks by Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, who commented on reports about the deputy CM's plans to visit the Kumbh Mela while attempting to link it to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s recent statement.
Kharge had questioned whether poverty could be eradicated by taking a dip in the Ganga, alleging that BJP leaders were competing to take dips for the cameras.
"He (Ashoka), the Opposition Leader, thinks he will gain respect in his party by making comments against me. Let anyone say whatever they want—it is a matter of our dharma and karma, our practices, traditions, and beliefs," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he stated that rivers like the Ganga, Cauvery, Krishna, Brahmaputra, Arkavathi, and Vrishabhavathi belong to no one.
"Water has no colour, taste, or shape, and everyone needs water. People say whatever they want—I don’t know what his (Ashoka’s) issue is. Maybe he has some problem. No one has the right to speak about my personal beliefs. My belief and devotion are my personal matters," he said.
BJP leader Ashoka, in a post on 'X', asked, "Won't Kharge now question—will all the sins of Dy CM Shivakumar be washed away as soon as he bathes in the Ganges? Will poverty be eradicated in Karnataka as soon as KPCC President Shivakumar takes a holy dip at the Kumbh Mela?"
When asked about his plans, Shivakumar said that whether he goes to the Kumbh Mela or not is entirely his decision. "It is a matter of my personal belief. Whether I go or not is my personal matter."
Responding to a question about Kharge’s statement, he said, "He said it in a certain context, so why is the media making it an issue?"
"Let Ashoka comment on the Prime Minister’s participation in the Kumbh, not me. Whether I go or not is my personal belief. Let him comment on whether the Prime Minister, Home Minister (Amit Shah), and various leaders from across the country and the world visiting the Kumbh is right or wrong," he added.
When asked about plans for a second airport in Bengaluru, the Deputy Chief Minister, who is also in charge of Bengaluru’s development, said that the matter would be discussed and decided after the Global Investors Meet next week.
"Our Infrastructure Minister (M B Patil) is looking into it. The issue has not yet been discussed and finalised with me and the Chief Minister, though a preliminary meeting has taken place. After the Global Investors Meet, the Chief Minister and all of us will discuss and decide," he said.
Regarding a proposal for a water tariff hike in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said it would be discussed during the next Cabinet meeting.
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AI ushers in hyper progress, can help emerging economies leapfrog: Google CEO Pichai
New Delhi (PTI): Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Thursday described artificial intelligence (AI) as ushering in an era of "hyper progress", with the potential to unlock new scientific discoveries and help emerging economies bypass traditional development stages.
Pichai said no technology has made him "dream bigger" than AI, highlighting its transformative potential across science, education, and economic growth.
Google will build four new subsea fibre optic cable systems between India and the United States, positioning the project as a cornerstone of broader AI and digital infrastructure expansion, he said.
Speaking at the AI Impact Summit, Google and Alphabet CEO outlined an ambitious vision for AI, calling it "the biggest platform shift of our lifetimes" and urging governments, companies and institutions to pursue the technology boldly and responsibly.
"It is the biggest platform shift of our lifetimes, we are on the cusp of hyper progress and new discoveries that can help emerging economies leapfrog legacy gaps. But that outcome is neither guaranteed nor automatic. To build AI that is truly helpful for everyone. We must pursue it boldly, approach it responsibly and work through this defining moment together," he said.
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Pichai said Google is establishing a full-stack AI hub in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh as part of its previously announced USD 15 billion infrastructure investment in India. The facility will house gigawatt-scale compute capacity and a new international subsea cable gateway, aimed at expanding jobs and AI access across the country.
"Technology brings incredible benefits, but we must ensure everyone has access to them. We cannot allow the digital divide to become an AI divide. That means investing in compute infrastructure and connectivity," he said, citing the Vizag investment as well as those in countries like Thailand and Malaysia.
"We're also building a vast network of subsea fiber optic cables, including four new systems between the US and India, as part of our America-India connect initiative," he said.
Pichai said AI will undeniably reshape the workforce, automating some roles, evolving others and creating entirely new careers. 20 years ago, the concept of a professional YouTube creator didn't exist and today there are millions around the world.
"It (AI) is the biggest platform shift of our lifetimes, we are on the cusp of hyper progress and new discoveries that can help emerging economies," he said.
He highlighted AI breakthroughs such as AlphaFold by Google DeepMind, which he said compressed decades of protein-structure research into a publicly available database used by millions of researchers worldwide.
For five decades, predicting protein structures was a grand challenge and a blind spot that stalled drug discovery. AlphaGo programme revealed millions of intricate 3D protein structures, helping scientists understand how life's molecules interact.
This breakthrough, he said, didn't just win a Nobel Prize but it also compressed decades of research into a database that is now open to the world today.
Over 3 million researchers in more than 190 countries are using it to develop malaria vaccines, fight antibiotic resistance and much more.
Pichai said AI is being deployed across healthcare, agriculture and language inclusion initiatives, citing partnerships in El Salvador to expand access to AI-powered medical diagnosis and in India, where AI-driven monsoon forecasts were delivered to millions of farmers.
"We cannot allow the digital divide to become an AI divide," he said, stressing the importance of expanding compute infrastructure and connectivity globally.
On the economic impact, Pichai said, "AI will undeniably reshape the workforce, automating some roles, evolving others and creating entirely new careers." He added that Google has trained 100 million people in digital skills and launched a Google AI Professional Certificate to help workers adapt to AI-driven changes.
Emphasising trust and governance, he said governments must act both as regulators and innovators to ensure AI benefits society at scale, while companies must build products that enhance knowledge, creativity and productivity.
"We have the opportunity to improve lives at a once-in-a-generation scale. I know we have the capability to do this. And looking at the leaders here today, I believe we also have the bill now. We must do the work together," Pichai said.
Pichai said AI can improve billions of lives and solve some of the hardest problems in science.
