HDK's mask slips

Globalisation & liberalisation have their ills; new coalition will not bow down to threats
His father’s son: HDK takes a swipe at IT
Deccan Herald

In his first attack on the IT sector, Chief Minister H D Kumaaraswamy said his government will not be cowed down by the “shrill” demands of the industry for better infrastructure.

In his first attack on the IT sector, Chief Minister H D Kumaaraswamy said his government will not be cowed down by the “shrill” demands of the industry for better infrastructure.

The focus, instead, he said, will be on the rural population and the poor who live on Bangalore City’s outskirts.

At the inauguration of the Karnataka Vishwakarma Youth Mandali at Jnanajyothi Auditorium here on Sunday evening, he said the new coalition government will not bow down to the threats of IT-BT industries. “If we do, we will join the league of previous governments that have yielded to their vociferous demands,” he added.

Kumaaraswamy illustrated that every time there was a cry for better facilities from the IT-BT quarters, “political parties get scared, invite them to Vidhana Soudha and give them royal treatment”, he said. In such an environment, politicians are scared to even think of the problems of the ordinary public, the chief minister added.

Almost echoing of his father JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda, the chief minister clarified that only three to four per cent of the population was dependent on IT in the City. “The salaries of the IT personnel have swollen from Rs 15,000 up to Rs 10 lakh, but what about the condition of those who work in garment factories for a meagre monthly Rs 800?” he questioned. The chief minister said globalisation and liberalisation have their ills and the IT boom along with other developments, has also been the cause many a problem, making him worry about Bangalore’s future.

IT fallout

“What this IT growth will lead us to is a matter of worry. Think about the conditions of auto drivers, the poor who has to attend nature’s call before 3:00 am for lack of private toilets and the condition of many such economically weak people,” he said.

Kumaaraswamy condemned the fact that only issues like vehicular traffic and the problems of the IT industry are getting highlighted, while there are other problems that working population has to face on a daily basis.

The State Budget to be presented by his deputy, B S Yediyurappa on, March 20 will be an answer to the Opposition allegation that his government is directionless, Kumaaraswamy said. “I cannot reveal the contents but it will not be pro-rich and will mainly address the problems of the economically weak.”

On the same note, he added that some of the programmes initiated by Mr Deve Gowda when he was the chief minister in 1994 are worth being emulated. “The political reservation my father worked out for certain communities was a good idea but not implemented properly,” he said.

Kumaaraswamy concluded by saying that he would vacate the chief minister’s chair even before the stipulated date if he did not implement the programmes announced by him during the last one month.

“I did not expect to become the chief minister so early and will not hold on to the chair if I am unworthy,” he said.

IT BASHING

* IT boom a cause for worry

* Only 3 to 4% of City population dependent on IT

* IT salaries have swollen from Rs 15,000 to Rs 10 lakh

* Only traffic woes and problems of IT highlighted