Karnataka CM irked over IT sector's threat

Karnataka CM irked over IT sector's threat
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: annoyed by the IT sector's repeated threat to boycott Karnataka's flagship IT event here in October over infrastructure woes, Chief Minister N Dharam Singh on Saturday hit back, saying there was a "systematic propaganda" against him.

"There is a systematic propaganda," he told reporters a day after the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) announced it would stay away from "Bangalore IT.IN 2005."

Earlier, a forum of top IT companies had issued a similar threat, citing indifference of the government to set right infrastructure problems.

Singh, whose coalition government has come under persistent attacks for "apathy" in improving roads, easing traffic congestion and ensuring better power supply, said that the IT sector was free to discuss it with him but issues such as infrastructure should not be politicised in state's interest.

Asked if there was any "political support" for the moves of the IT sector, Singh evaded a reply but said "such issues cannot be resolved if some people sit at home and discuss it."

"There is groupism in the IT sector also just as in any other field," he said.

Singh said his government had taken various initiatives to improve the infrastructure in Bangalore. It was his government which gave a push to the Bangalore international airport with work on the runway in full swing, earning compliments from the IT sector itself, he said.

A cabinet sub-committee had also been formed on improving the infrastructure. The metro rail project conceived in 1983 had been cleared by the public investment board and was now before the Union cabinet committee on economic affairs, he said.