Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, March 11: Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H D Kumaraswamy has strongly criticised the passing of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill by the Karnataka government, accusing the Congress of dividing Bengaluru in the same way it divided India in the past.

Taking to the social media platform X, Kumaraswamy stated, "The Congress is unmatched when it comes to dividing and breaking things! For 75 years, it has been doing this and continues to do so. The Congress' policy itself is Divide and Rule."

He added, "Then: It divided an undivided India! Now: It is dividing Bengaluru city!!" Kumaraswamy further claimed that the bill’s true intention was not to decentralise governance, but rather to undermine the legacy of Bengaluru’s founder, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda.

He argued, "The only intention is to completely destroy the legacy of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, the founder of Bengaluru city. Greater Bengaluru is just a name. The real intention is only to loot."

While not explicitly naming Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Kumaraswamy's remarks were clearly aimed at him, as Shivakumar has been a key figure behind the bill. Kumaraswamy labelled the bill as a decentralisation of "loot" rather than power or development, and he drew comparisons to historical invasions, stating, "Looters like Muhammad Ghazni and Muhammad Ghori plundered a prosperous India. Now, a new Ghazni or Ghori has emerged in Bengaluru, looking for seven ways to loot!"

The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill 2024, which aims to decentralise Bengaluru’s governance by creating multiple corporations, was passed in the Legislative Assembly on Monday, amid a walkout by the Opposition. The bill seeks to address the challenges of managing a rapidly expanding city by restructuring the administrative framework.

In contrast, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar defended the bill, stating that the current system was no longer suitable for managing Bengaluru’s growth. “Bengaluru in its current form is difficult to govern, even the Opposition members admit it. The city has grown way beyond the boundaries set up by its founder Kempe Gowda, and it can’t be reversed," he said.

Shivakumar went on to explain, “We are trying to give a new direction to Bengaluru. We intend to make Bengaluru a global city with this new law. It is a sacred Bill. With the city growing rapidly, it is difficult for one commissioner and one chief engineer to run the city. Keeping in mind the future needs, we are forming seven corporations.”

He emphasised that the aim was not to break Bengaluru but to strengthen it. "We are trying to uphold the reputation of the city. Bengaluru is a global city which attracts people from all over the world," Shivakumar said.

Shivakumar also referred to the previous divisions of Bengaluru district and how Udupi, Gadag, and Haveri were carved out of neighbouring districts. He assured that the decentralisation of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) would improve governance, not harm it.

"Some are of the opinion that grants may become an issue with this decentralisation. As per the 75th Amendment, we can’t transfer the local body funds to something else. The Bill also provides for the government to help out financially weaker local bodies," he stated.

While Kumaraswamy and other critics have raised concerns about the bill’s potential negative impact, Shivakumar remains firm in his belief that the restructuring will pave the way for better governance and a more efficiently run city.