In a sharp critique of the prevailing political narrative, Communist Party of India (Marxist) district secretary TL Krishnegowda has accused both the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress of exploiting public and youth sentiments regarding the crucial issue of industrialisation in Mandya district.
Allegations of Political Motives and Misleading Statements
Addressing the media on Friday, Krishnegowda took direct aim at Union Minister and local MP HD Kumaraswamy. He asserted that the minister's recent pronouncements about establishing industries in the region were politically motivated and designed to mislead the people. Kumaraswamy represents the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency.
The CPM leader specifically countered the minister's claim that the state government had failed to provide land for industrial projects. Krishnegowda characterised this as a deliberate attempt to shift responsibility away from the Centre. He emphasised that what Mandya district urgently requires are modern, high-technology industries in the public sector capable of generating large-scale employment for the local population.
A Call for Transparency and Concrete Details
Challenging Kumaraswamy to move beyond rhetoric, Krishnegowda issued a demand for full public disclosure. He called for the release of detailed information on any proposed industrial plans, including:
- The names of the companies interested in investing.
- The specific nature of the production or manufacturing proposed.
- The sources of the investment capital.
- A clear estimate of the number of jobs likely to be created.
Furthermore, he raised a critical procedural question, asking whether any concrete proposal or formal land requirement plan had ever been submitted to the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) by the Centre or the minister's office.
Criticism of State and Central Government Policies
Krishnegowda did not spare the state government either, criticising it for failing to take proactive and decisive steps to promote industrial growth in Mandya. He lamented that the ongoing blame game between the two major parties only reflected a profound lack of genuine commitment to the district's industrial development.
Expanding his critique to national policies, the CPM leader accused the central government of systematically weakening employment security by undermining the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. He also alleged that the Centre's subsidies for electric buses were a strategic move towards the privatisation of the public transport sector.
The press conference was also attended by fellow CPM leaders NL Bharatraj, B Hanumesh, and Chandrashekhar, underscoring the party's collective stance on the issue.
