Centre Organises Event in Karnataka, CM Says He Wasn’t Consulted
In a recent turn of events, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has come under fire after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his discontent over not being consulted before finalising the foundation stone laying ceremony of multiple infrastructure projects in Shivamogga on July 14. The event, which was attended by several high-profile dignitaries, including the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, raised eyebrows among the political circles in Karnataka.
Siddaramaiah, in a series of tweets, expressed his displeasure over being kept in the dark about the entire event. He claimed that the invitations with his name were circulated publicly, and he was officially invited only on July 11, just three days before the event. This, according to the Chief Minister, was an unacceptable practice and reflected poorly on the Centre’s communication with the state government.
“It is unfortunate that the Centre has not consulted me or the state government before finalising the event. The invitations with my name were circulated publicly, and I was officially invited only on July 11. This is not the way to conduct governance,” Siddaramaiah tweeted.
The Chief Minister’s tweetstorm was met with widespread support from his party colleagues and critics of the Centre. Many saw the event as a clear example of the Centre’s disregard for the state government’s opinions and inputs. The BJP, on the other hand, defended the Centre’s actions, claiming that the event was a ceremonial function and did not require the Chief Minister’s consultation.
The controversy surrounding the event has sparked a heated debate about the Centre-state relations in Karnataka. The state government has been at loggerheads with the Centre over several issues, including the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the sharing of river waters. The event has further strained the relationship between the two, with the Chief Minister accusing the Centre of undermining the state’s autonomy.
The Centre, on the other hand, has maintained that the event was a ceremonial function and did not require the Chief Minister’s consultation. “The event was a ceremonial function, and it is not necessary to consult the Chief Minister every time we hold an event in the state,” a senior official from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said.
The controversy has also raised questions about the role of the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, in the event. Gadkari has been at the forefront of several infrastructure projects in Karnataka, and his presence at the event has been seen as a clear indication of the Centre’s interest in the state’s development.
Gadkari, in a statement, defended the Centre’s actions, claiming that the event was a symbol of the Centre’s commitment to the state’s development. “The event was a symbol of the Centre’s commitment to the state’s development, and it is unfortunate that the Chief Minister has chosen to politicise it,” Gadkari said.
The controversy surrounding the event has also raised questions about the Centre’s communication with the state government. The Chief Minister has accused the Centre of not consulting the state government on several issues, including the implementation of the GST and the sharing of river waters.
The Centre, on the other hand, has maintained that it has been in constant communication with the state government on all issues. “We have been in constant communication with the state government on all issues, and we have always been willing to listen to their opinions and inputs,” a senior official from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding the Centre’s event in Karnataka has sparked a heated debate about the Centre-state relations in the state. The Chief Minister’s accusations of not being consulted have been met with widespread support from his party colleagues and critics of the Centre. The Centre, on the other hand, has defended its actions, claiming that the event was a ceremonial function and did not require the Chief Minister’s consultation. The controversy has further strained the relationship between the two, and it remains to be seen how the issue will be resolved in the coming days.
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