Congress MLA Ganiga Ravikumar has stirred political controversy in Karnataka with his accusations that there is a conspiracy being hatched to politically target and even jail Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
Speaking at a public meeting in Mandya, the Congress legislator Ganiga Ravikumar attacked Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and accused him of being in cahoots with senior BJP leaders who are trying to sabotage the Chief Minister and obstruct development projects in Karnataka.
Ravikumar said that some of the political leaders cannot accept D.K. Shivakumar's elevation to the Chief Minister position and are trying to sabotage him. Daily, he said, these leaders are trying to make it hard for him politically. He claimed that H.D. Kumaraswamy is trying to use the support of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to create problems for the Chief Minister. Ravikumar claimed that central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are being used as tools in this political battle.
The controversy also relates to proposed development projects in the Old Mysuru district. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had envisioned Bidadi to become a major Artificial Intelligence (AI) City where investment could be attracted and jobs could be created in the region, he said.
Ravikumar also argued that the project could help accelerate the economic growth of the Old Mysuru belt and improve the livelihoods of local farmers. But he claimed opposition to the project was politically motivated and aimed at preventing the area from reaping the dividends of large-scale development.
Similar to past decisions, Ravikumar recalled the proposed airport project in Bidadi that didn't materialise. If the airport had been constructed years ago, the whole region would have experienced rapid urban and economic growth. Land values would have been much higher for many landowners, and the people of that area would have had the opportunity to get new jobs and business opportunities. He questioned why the airport project was stalled and suggested that similar forces are now trying to stop the AI City proposal.
The Congress leader said D.K. Shivakumar’s political opponents never wanted him to become Chief Minister. He compared the current situation with the hardships faced by former Karnataka Chief Minister S.M. Krishna during his tenure. Ravikumar said influential political leaders had created obstacles for Krishna in the past, and now the same pattern is being repeated against Shivakumar.
In another major claim, Ravikumar mentioned a meeting between H.D. Kumaraswamy and a delegation of the Akka World Kannada Conference. He claimed that the delegation had met Kumaraswamy at his Delhi residence at a time when D.K. Shivakumar had not yet become Chief Minister. Ravikumar said the discussions from this meeting could be made public and might shed light on some important political details.
The MLA also criticised Kumaraswamy’s performance as Union Minister for Heavy Industries. He argued that when Kumaraswamy holds a portfolio related to industrial development, it is natural for people to question him about industrial investments and projects. Ravikumar sarcastically commented that if Kumaraswamy were Minister for Fertilisers, people would ask about fertilisers, and if he were Minister of Water Resources, questions would be about irrigation and water supply.
Continuing his attack, Ravikumar claimed that development in Hassan district cannot be attributed to Kumaraswamy alone. He said much of the progress in the region was owing to former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and former Minister H.D. Revanna. He claimed Kumaraswamy’s contribution to Hassan’s development was negligible and accused him of opposing projects that could strengthen D.K. Shivakumar politically.
The remarks will only escalate the political rivalry between the Congress and the JD(S)-BJP alliance in Karnataka. In a political environment where there are also allegations and counter-allegations and debates about development projects going on, Ganiga Ravikumar’s comments are going to provoke fresh responses from opposition leaders in the coming days.
