Surjewala accuses Centre, BJP-JD(S) of destroying Bengaluru's green cover

Bengaluru: Congress general secretary, Randeep Singh Surjewala , who oversees Karnataka, accused the Union govt and opposition BJP-JD(S) combine of endangering Bengaluru's ecology by allegedly prioritising real estate over environmental preservation.

After a meeting with state forest minister Eshwar Khandre Wednesday, Surjewala said the govt was committed to developing a biodiversity park on the remaining 280 acres of land formerly held by Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) in Gorguntepalya in Bengaluru. "While the Congress state govt wants bio-diversity park like Cubbon Park, BJP-JD(S) want real estate development," Surjewala said in a post on X.

He attached a TOI report titled "Concrete heat trap" and said: "In the 1960s, the Karnataka govt had allotted 443 acres of land to HMT for a factory in Gorguntepalya, in the heart of Bengaluru. The factory is shut down for last 15 years. They sold 160 acres earlier. On the remaining 280 Acres, Karnataka Govt and Forest Department wants to make a ‘Bio-Diversity Park', like the Cubbon Park, which will be second set of lungs for Bengaluru. The central govt and Union minister HD Kumaraswamy want to sell these 280 acres of land for real estate development. The Govt of Karnataka and Modi Govt are fighting it out in Supreme Court and matter is now listed for July."

Surjewala went on to say, "For BJP-JD(S), is making money out of real estate more important than green cover and fresh air for people of Bengaluru? Does this not expose the hypocrisy of central govt and bring out the sinister nexus of BJP and JD(S)?"

Meanwhile, cooperation minister KN Rajanna skipped a one-on-one meeting with Surjewala citing a pre-scheduled Europe trip. Rajanna reportedly told Surjewala he would meet him when he returns. His son Rajendra told reporters that the trip, planned over a month ago, included family members and that chief minister Siddaramaiah was also informed. Surjewala has been holding individual meetings with ministers as part of a review and coordination exercise.

Opposition calls Surjewala ‘Super CM'

Opposition BJP and JD(S) mocked Congress, accusing its general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala of acting as Karnataka's ‘Super CM'. Opposition leader R Ashoka claimed Congress high command had lost faith in chief minister Siddaramaiah and has imposed "Randeep rule" in the state. "Will Surjewala chair the cabinet meeting too?" he asked. Ashoka claimed Siddaramaiah lacked administrative control, DK Shivakumar had no MLA backing, and Rahul Gandhi had no authority over CM selection. JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy sarcastically congratulated Surjewala for his "silent elevation" and said elected MLAs were now forced to approach the "Surjewala Sarkar" for development funds.