A heated political debate has ignited in Karnataka concerning the proposed tunnel road project in Bengaluru. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has launched a robust counter-attack against BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, who had voiced criticism against the initiative.
In a candid response to reporters, Shivakumar dismissed Surya’s objections, even questioning his standing to oppose state-led infrastructure development. He remarked, “That boy is a waste material. When he is treated with respect and spoken to, he keeps on ranting as much as he can,” as reported by news agency ANI.
Adding a jab at the Bengaluru South MP, Shivakumar stated, “Who is this Tejasvi Surya to say no to tunnel roads? He should decide in the Lok Sabha after becoming a Union Minister that there should be no tunnel roads in this country and in the world.”
Shivakumar defended his government’s infrastructure plans by asserting that the Congress administration has a superior track record in urban development compared to the previous BJP government. He highlighted the metro project’s introduction to the state and questioned the BJP’s contributions during their tenure, mentioning the limited central government funding for the metro and the state’s self-reliance in project execution, including land compensation.
Earlier, Tejasvi Surya had criticized Shivakumar, accusing him of sidelining crucial public transport projects in favor of what he described as an “extravagant and unnecessary” tunnel road plan. Surya also alleged that the government had overlooked proposals to enhance BMTC services and implement smaller feeder bus routes for more remote areas.