Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka was plotting to close down Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) in Mangaluru over a political vendetta against him.
Speaking to presspersons in Channarayapatna in Hassan district on Sunday, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the company had been offering employment to thousands of people. After becoming the Union Minister, the first file he cleared was approving the Devadari mine for KIOCL in Sandur taluk of Ballari district. The same had been approved by the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government earlier.
“I recommended financial assistance to operationalise the mine. However, Congress leaders twisted this development deliberately and obstructed the process for political reasons,” he said.
The State government’s obstruction resulted in many workers losing jobs. “If the Devadari mine was operationalised by now, 2,500 more people would have gotten jobs. To prevent its closure, we decided to merge it with the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), while the State government is busy strangling the industry,” he said.
Mr. Kumaraswamy alleged that the State government was obstructing the revival of HMT as well. “When I showed interest in reviving HMT, the Congress government intervened to obstruct by raising the forest issue. The government is interested in stopping development over political differences,” he remarked.
Reacting to Congress leaders’ comments that Union Ministers from the State had no guts to raise their voices for the State in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Kumaraswamy maintained that he had shown his strength by taking up the revival of RINL-Visakhapatnam steel plant. “The Union Cabinet had already taken a decision for disinvestment of the plant. Once a decision is taken, it is hardly withdrawn. However, because of my efforts, the steel plant is being revived. The people of Visakhapatnam welcomed the move and took me in a procession in the city. I could do this because of the blessings of the people in Karnataka,” he said.
Similarly, he said he had begun the process to revive the Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant at Bhadravati in Shivamogga district. “The plant was set up by the Mysore kings. It needs to be revived. No matter if the State government supports my efforts or not, we will revive the plant. Recently, I visited the Bokaro steel plant in Jharkhand. We are investing ₹20,000 crore for its expansion,” he said.
Mr. Kumaraswamy was in Channarayapatna to attend a private programme. He was accompanied by C.N. Balakrishna, Shravanabelgola MLA, and others.
Cong. govt has no moral right to criticise Central Budget: HDK
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said the Karnataka government had no moral right to criticise the Union Budget.
Mr. Kumaraswamy said when the Congress was in power earlier, it did not give funds for any irrigation project, including Hemavati, Harangi, Vatehole, or Kabini. “The irrigation projects of the State got funds only when H.D. Deve Gowda became Prime Minister with the blessings of the people of the State, who elected 17 candidates of the Janata Dal,” he said.
He said the State government did not approach him on any project concerning Karnataka. “What is the point in complaining after the Budget? They don’t even have courage to present proposals before the Prime Minister,” he stated.
Mr. Kumaraswamy said that the Union government was committed to supporting the growth of Artificial Intelligence industry in Karnataka. “The State is already a hub of the software industry. We will ensure it becomes an AI hub too. I will discuss the issue with the Ministers concerned,” he said.
He also said that he would make efforts for early completion of the Hassan airport project, a dream project of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.
Published – February 03, 2025 07:14 am IST
