After Deputy Chief Minister D.K Shivakumar stated the possibility of villages of Kanakapura taluk merging with Bengaluru has triggered a political slugfest.
On Wednesday, the Deputy CM spoke of the “Bengaluru identity” of people living in the region around Bengaluru and also proposed renaming Ramnagara district is “Bengaluru South” district and said people’s opinions to be sought on this proposal.
Mr. Shivakumar’s remarks were in retaliation to JD(S) leader H.D Kumaraswamy, during whose tenure in 2007 Ramanagara district ( comprising Channapatna, Ramanagara, Kanakapura, and Magadi taluks) was carved out of Bengaluru Rural district, attacked him for talking of making Kanakapura part of Bengaluru for “real estate reasons”.
When Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was asked about the controversy. He responded, “Ask Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar this question. I do not know about this. I will discuss the matter with him.”
Mr. Kumaraswamy has refuted the attack by Deputy CM saying that, Ramanagara was carved out on a scientific basis.
The verbal conflict has escalated after this, with Mr. Kumaraswamy now threatening to undertake an indefinite fast if the name of Ramanagara district is changed.
On Thursday, Mr. Kumaraswamy asserted that Mr. Shivakumar and his brother D.K. Suresh had allegedly acquired a combined total of eight acres in Hosakerehalli village, located in Uttarahalli Hobli. This land had previously been notified for the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor Project. Subsequently, they entered into a collaborative development agreement with a private builder for the construction of 1,400 housing units. Mr. Kumaraswamy contended, “While Mr. Suresh applied for the conversion of the land, the conversion order was issued in Mr. Shivakumar’s name.”
Mr. Kumaraswamy highlighted another instance, without mentioning the brothers, “Within a land area of approximately 900 acres owned by DLF in Tavarekere on the outskirts of Bengaluru, around 300 acres were under the ownership of politicians. They commenced acquiring land within this extensive plot over the past five years.” He inquired, “Is this the approach you wish to adopt in constructing the image of Brand Bengaluru?”
With this, the next legislature session is likely to witness stormy business, as both Mr. Shivakumar and Mr. Kumaraswamy have expressed their willingness to debate the issue of Ramanagara’s renaming in the Legislative Assembly.
