HD Kumaraswamy slams Shivakumar over Kanakapura merger plan
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Bengaluru (Karnataka): Former Chief Minister of Karnataka HD Kumaraswamy and current Deputy CM of the state DK Shivakumar have locked horns over deciding the jurisdiction of a taluk, according to NDTV.
The bone of contention between two leaders was whether Kanakpura taluk should remain part of Ramanagara district or be merged with the capital region, Bengaluru.
DK Shivakumar recently argued in favour of Kanakapura becoming part of Bengaluru in the future, which stirred up controversy.
HD Kumaraswamy , accusing Shivkumar of trying to regularise alleged illegal activities around Kanakapura, questioned ownership of properties in the area, benami transactions, and illegal encroachment.
Shivakumar, who holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, told people at an event in Shivanahalli near Kanakapura not to sell their lands to those from Bengaluru.
‘You do not belong to Ramanagara district. You belong to Bengaluru. Keep this in mind. I urge the people of Shivanahalli not to sell your assets to Bengalureans. I can't put money into your pockets. I can't provide homes to all. But God has given me the strength to increase the value of your assets by ten times,’ he was quoted as saying.
Subsequently, Kumaraswamy accused Shivakumar of jacking up property values around Kanakapura to benefit his personal treasury.
Shivakumar retorted that his proposal was legitimate, and criticized Kumaraswamy for ‘discrediting his intensions’.
Kanakapura, which sits about 55 km from Bengaluru, is currently part of Ramanagara district.
The district was formed in 2007 when HD Kumaraswamy was the chief minister. Back then, Kanakapura was under Bengaluru Rural district.