Karnataka CM Defends Parks Bill Withdrawal, Hits Out at BJP
Karnataka CM Shivakumar defends withdrawal of parks amendment Bill, says no U-turn, no Lalbagh land for tunnel, and slams BJP as anti-development.
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday defended the state government's decision to withdraw the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, rejecting opposition claims that the move was a "U-turn." He said the withdrawal was aimed at respecting public sentiment and enabling a wider discussion on the legislation.
Addressing the media, Shivakumar said, "Why should I make a U-turn? The sentiments of the people have been respected." He added that the government would release a list of actions taken during the tenures of former chief ministers B.S. Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai to put the issue in context.
The Bill, which proposed allowing alienation of up to 5% of park land for public infrastructure, had triggered strong protests from citizen groups and the opposition BJP. The government withdrew it amid the controversy, with Shivakumar stating there was "nothing wrong in hearing their demands."
Shivakumar also used the occasion to attack the BJP, accusing it of being "anti-development." He questioned the opposition's record on major infrastructure projects in Bengaluru, noting that even a proposed steel bridge during Siddaramaiah's tenure was opposed by the BJP. "If Bengaluru has any curse, it is the BJP's," he said.
On the proposed 16.5-km tunnel road, Shivakumar reiterated that the government had no intention of using Lalbagh land. "The Bill was withdrawn because we want to have a discussion. The government has no intention of taking over Lalbagh land for the tunnel road project," he said, adding that land transfers were needed for Metro expansion, not for selling parks.
He also challenged the opposition to suggest alternatives to tunnel roads and double-decker corridors, which he said were necessary to ease Bengaluru's traffic congestion. He pointed out that similar projects were underway in Delhi and Maharashtra and asked why the BJP was not opposing them there.
Shivakumar defended the government's past use of public land for infrastructure, citing examples like Metro and High Court parking. He maintained that the recent approval for land transfer was not specifically for the tunnel project, but had been proposed by officials and approved as a routine matter.