Karnataka Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda alleged on Thursday, 12 November 2026, that his speech was removed from the official programme for the inauguration of Namma Metro's Pink Line by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bengaluru — claiming he was being punished for demanding the state's rightful financial share in the project. The inauguration covers the 7.5-km elevated stretch between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere, scheduled for Friday, 13 November 2026.

What Gowda Alleged

In a post on X, Gowda said his address had been included in a draft programme circulated earlier but was dropped from the revised schedule sent out on Wednesday night. He published copies of both the draft and the final schedules to substantiate his claim. The draft had listed his speech immediately after a welcome address by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, while the finalised schedule carried no such slot for him.

'The reward for seeking justice for Karnataka is that my speech has been cut! The Bengaluru Development Minister has not been given an opportunity to speak at the Metro inauguration,' Gowda said. He added: 'A major share of the capital expenditure is borne by us. This is how we are punished for seeking Karnataka's rightful share.'

Notably, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's speech remained intact in the revised programme, making Gowda's omission more conspicuous. Despite the slight, Gowda said his commitment to Bengaluru's development would not waver: 'You can cut my speech, but you cannot stop me from working for Bengaluru's development.'

The Funding Dispute Behind the Row

The episode is not an isolated grievance — it is the latest flare-up in an ongoing dispute between the Congress-led Karnataka government and the Centre over Metro funding contributions. The state government has asserted that it has borne 84 per cent of expenditure so far, while claiming the Centre is yet to release its full share. Gowda has previously raised the issue of a larger fund allocation for the Metro project in Bengaluru on multiple occasions.

This comes amid broader political tensions between the two governments over infrastructure credit-sharing, with the Pink Line inauguration becoming a flashpoint for competing narratives.

BJP's Response: 'Not the Time to Claim Credit'

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, called for restraint on both sides, saying the Prime Minister's visit and the inauguration were an official government programme and should not be turned into a political contest. 'Nobody can claim credit for this. Our country and our State should get the credit, not any political party. This is not the time to claim credit,' he said.

Narayanaswamy also confirmed that BJP leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in Assembly R. Ashoka and State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra, would meet the Prime Minister during his Bengaluru visit.

Bommai on Metro Funding: Loans, Not Treasury Money

Former Chief Minister and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai entered the debate to push back on the Congress government's framing. He argued that 60 to 65 per cent of Metro project funding comprised loans repaid through the Metro's own fare revenue — not from government coffers. 'The public repays the loan through Metro ticket fares. The loan is not repaid from the government treasury. Loans are secured only after obtaining a guarantee from the Central Government,' Bommai said.

He maintained that the Centre and the State contributed equally, at a 50:50 ratio, and noted that during his own tenure as Chief Minister, he had provided ₹2,500 crore for the Orange Line.

What Happens Next

With the inauguration set for Friday and political tempers running high, the credit war over Namma Metro's Pink Line is unlikely to subside after the ribbon is cut. The unresolved question of pending Central funds — and who bears what share of Bengaluru's Metro expansion — will continue to test Centre-state relations in Karnataka.