Park Bill withdrawal: D.K. Shivakumar controlled from Delhi, alleges Karnataka BJP
Bengaluru: BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, on Friday ridiculed AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala’s remark that the Congress government listens to every Kannadiga, alleging that the withdrawal of the Bill allowing five per cent park land to be used for other development purposes had exposed Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar as a “remote-controlled” Chief Minister.
Reacting to the Karnataka government’s decision to withdraw the provision and Surjewala’s comments defending the government on social media X, Ashoka alleged that Shivakumar was not running the state government independently but was taking directions from the Congress high command in Delhi.
“Thank you, Surjewala Ji, for confirming what seven crore Kannadigas already knew — D.K. Shivakumar is a remote-controlled CM and the weakest-ever CM Karnataka has seen,” Ashoka said in a social media post.
Taking a dig at Surjewala’s claim that the government listens to every Kannadiga, Ashoka said the withdrawal of the Bill demonstrated that the Congress government had initially ignored public concerns over Bengaluru’s green spaces.
He alleged that the government had attempted to push through the provision permitting five per cent of park land to be used for other purposes despite opposition from the BJP and concerns raised by citizens.
“The Bill was withdrawn. Delhi cracked the whip. CM Shivakumar surrendered,” Ashoka alleged.
He claimed that the BJP’s opposition to the provision, coupled with growing public resistance, had forced the government to withdraw the Bill.
Ashoka also alleged that Surjewala’s presence in Karnataka was an attempt to explain the Chief Minister’s decision to back down rather than a reflection of the state government independently responding to public opinion.
Ridiculing the Congress leader’s assertion that the government listens to Kannadigas, Ashoka said the government had listened only after facing sustained opposition.
“The BJP fought against the provision and public resistance forced the government to withdraw it. Calling this a canard will not change the facts,” he said.
Ashoka further alleged that Shivakumar was functioning according to the directions of Congress leaders in Delhi, including Rahul Gandhi, rather than taking decisions independently in the interests of Karnataka.
“This wasn’t leadership. This was a remote-controlled surrender,” Ashoka said, reiterating his charge that Shivakumar was a “dummy CM” whose government was controlled from Delhi.