What has BJP got to do with Metro inauguration, queries CM
Bengaluru: Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday questioned the BJP’s role in the inauguration of Bengaluru Metro’s Pink Line, asserting that the state government had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the project on November 13.
Speaking to the media in Kanakapura, Shivakumar said, “The Prime Minister is coming to Bengaluru on November 13 to inaugurate the Metro Pink Line at our invitation. Some people are trying to take credit by claiming that they invited the Prime Minister. What does the BJP have to do with this?” He said the Metro project was being developed using public money and loans raised by the government. “This is people’s money. We are developing the Metro by taking loans. I will present certain issues before the Prime Minister on November 13,” he said.
Explaining his visit to Delhi, the Chief Minister said Rahul Gandhi had convened a meeting with Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) presidents and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leaders in the evening. The meeting was scheduled to last around one-and-a-half hours, prompting him to travel to the national capital. He added that he would not be meeting anyone else in Delhi due to the Deepavali festival. On the sugarcane farmers’ protest, Shivakumar said the government had appealed to farmers to call off their agitation and not treat the issue as a matter of prestige.
He said sugar factory representatives and ministers had held discussions on Friday. Some parties had also approached the court seeking permission to allow sugarcane crushing operations and police protection. An affidavit was also being filed in connection with the matter, he added. The Chief Minister said the Centre should fix the price of sugar and that the state government had written to the Prime Minister seeking intervention on the issue. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi had informed him that efforts were being made in this regard.
Reacting to threats that the winter session of the Karnataka Legislature in Belagavi would not be allowed to proceed unless the sugarcane issue was resolved, Shivakumar said such warnings were inappropriate. “There should be some courtesy. Calling farmers in a disrespectful manner, saying ‘Come here’, amounts to insulting them. Such things should not happen,” he said.