Bengaluru, March 26 (NationPress) In a recent statement, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar addressed the ongoing comparisons between Bengaluru and Hyderabad. He emphasized that he does not wish to draw comparisons between Bengaluru, which is currently ranked sixth among global tech hubs, and Hyderabad, which holds the 26th position.

During a session in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, Shivakumar, who oversees the Bengaluru Development portfolio, remarked, "A recent report indicates that Bengaluru is listed among the top 10 tech hubs worldwide. San Francisco leads the list, followed by London in second place. Bengaluru is in the sixth position, just behind Beijing at fifth, while Hyderabad is ranked 26th." He added, "I have no desire to compete with Hyderabad.”

Former Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan also interjected, asserting that they too wish to refrain from comparing the two cities.

“There’s no other city in our nation that can match Bengaluru. While we recognize that Hyderabad may offer a more affordable cost of living—around 50 percent cheaper—and possibly better facilities, the unique cosmopolitan character and talent pool of Bengaluru are unmatched. We must safeguard and promote its growth,” he stated.

“In truth, the government’s role in Bengaluru's development has been limited. Historically, Bengaluru has been overlooked in discussions,” Ashwath Narayan continued.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao noted that Bengaluru gained its distinctive status thanks to the establishment of public sector industries and educational institutions by various governments, which ultimately laid the groundwork for the IT boom, highlighting the government's crucial role in its success.

Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka remarked that media comparisons often use Hyderabad as a benchmark.

“If you (Shivakumar) choose to avoid talking about Hyderabad, it may be seen as favoritism. Bengaluru's development is organic; it wasn't engineered by us. The interests of Karnataka come first, or else, it could lead to political ramifications, especially with the Congress currently in power there under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy,” he explained.

Shivakumar added, “Bengaluru has provided me with everything, and I wish to give back. This cannot be achieved without collective effort. Our city is home to 250 engineering colleges and 70 medical colleges, a rarity in India. Annually, approximately 13,940 doctors graduate from Karnataka’s medical colleges—where do they go? A significant portion of this talent is relocating abroad.”

He mentioned that the Prime Minister of the Netherlands indicated that their country saved 40% in costs by utilizing services from Bengaluru compared to other global cities.

Shivakumar also pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently referred to Bengaluru as a global city. He reminisced that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee once noted that foreign leaders would first visit Delhi before exploring other states. “Now, world leaders are prioritizing Bengaluru in their itineraries before heading to Delhi,” he noted, referencing recent visits by leaders from China, Japan, the UK, Poland, and others.

“The contributions from all sectors of society, including students and technocrats, have fueled this growth. Presently, Bengaluru boasts 2.6 million IT professionals. Among the Fortune 500 companies, around 400 have a base in Bengaluru. The American Ambassador has urged for the establishment of 10 world-class schools in the city. While California’s Silicon Valley is home to about 1.35 million engineers, Bengaluru’s engineer workforce stands at around 2.6 million. This illustrates Bengaluru's strength,” he concluded.