What Is the Real Face of the ATM Government? Karnataka BJP Critiques Shivakumar

Bengaluru, Sep 19 (NationPress) Criticizing Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also serves as the Bengaluru Development Minister, for his remarks that his government should not be "blackmailed" regarding inadequate road infrastructure by IT firms, the Karnataka BJP on Friday asserted that requesting fundamental accountability does not equate to a threat or blackmail.

Shivakumar, who has come under fire due to IT companies departing Bengaluru over its subpar road conditions, declared on Thursday, "No one can threaten or blackmail the government. I will not stop anyone from going."

The Leader of Opposition, R. Ashoka, expressed on his social media account X, "Rahul Gandhi's pocket Constitution asking for pothole-free roads amounts to blackmailing. Demanding basic accountability is threatening, and citizens raising their voice is as good as committing a crime. Mr. Dy CM D.K. Shivakumar, if asking for safe roads is ‘blackmail,’ then what will you do when lakhs of frustrated citizens come out on the streets? Will you declare an emergency in Bengaluru to silence the people?"

"Will you label ordinary taxpayers as criminals simply for demanding what is rightfully theirs?" Ashoka queried.

"This is the true face of the ATM government in the state. A government that perceives citizens not as stakeholders but as obstacles. The Congress-led government prioritizes Rahul Gandhi’s politics over resolving Bengaluru’s road issues. What Bengaluru requires is not drama or empty slogans, but roads free of potholes, governance devoid of corruption, and leaders who are humble," he added.

"If the Congress government continues to ignore the people's voice, they are prepared to express their discontent – not only on the streets but also at the polling booth," Ashoka criticized.

Former Deputy Chief Minister and MLA C. N. Ashwath Narayan condemned the state government, asserting that when a company that has endured hardships for years highlights Bengaluru’s drawbacks, the government cannot handle it.

Speaking to reporters, Narayan asked, “If the government tells such companies, ‘If you want, stay; otherwise, leave,’ what kind of culture is this? Are these the words of a people-friendly government?”

He insisted that rather than making arrogant remarks, the government should operate in a pro-people manner and foster trust.

The former Deputy Chief Minister stated that a government should always be people-centric. Governance should exhibit respect and public concern. "However, in the case of the Congress government, power has intoxicated them, leading to arrogant speech. When citizens highlight their failures, they lack the courtesy or culture to acknowledge it,” he said.

“Bengaluru is a proud city recognized globally for entrepreneurship, technology, and startups. All Prime Ministers, respected Presidents, and world leaders view India through Bengaluru. But when the city's failures and shortcomings are brought to light, this government cannot tolerate it,” he alleged.

BJP MLA C.K. Rammurthy, addressing the media, stated that when numerous software giants in Bengaluru, including Mohandas Pai and various companies, raised concerns about the pothole-laden roads, they should have been invited for discussions and assured of action. Instead, the statement made by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has left the entire software sector deeply disappointed, he lamented. He urged D.K. Shivakumar to concentrate on Bengaluru's development.

He further noted that software firms are already planning to relocate out of the state, while several other states are actively courting them. In this scenario, the government must act judiciously and prioritize the development of Bengaluru, he urged.

Currently, all ring roads and numerous other streets in Bengaluru are riddled with potholes and in disarray. The government may discuss allocating Rs 25 or 50 crore for road improvements, but not a single tender has been issued for road repairs, he asserted.

It has been two and a half years since the Congress government assumed power. Last year, heavy rains caused significant issues, yet in the past year, no action has been taken, and roads remain unpaved, Rammurthy stated. He accused D.K. Shivakumar of failing to implement any development initiatives for two and a half years, thereby setting Bengaluru back by a decade.

"The residents of Bengaluru contribute about 60 percent of the state’s tax revenue. Rather than making distressing statements, the government should engage with all software companies and convince them to remain in the state. The focus must be on Bengaluru's development," he emphasized.

Former minister and BJP leader D.N. Jeevaraj, while criticizing the Congress government, stated, “When we travel to Bengaluru from our hometowns, we console ourselves that even the capital city has deteriorated this badly. But when we question the Congress-led government about this, they boast that they have treated the entire state equally — potholes everywhere and roads left in such a way that people cannot even walk. This, they claim, is their achievement.”

“In my own constituency, we witnessed two people losing their lives when a car ran over them while trying to avoid potholes on the road. Four others fell from two-wheelers due to potholes and suffered broken legs. They did not even have money for treatment,” Jeevaraj stated with concern.