PM Modi Namma Metro Inauguration Sparks ‘Credit Chori’ Allegations by Karnataka Minister
Bengaluru—Priyank Kharge, Minister of Karnataka, and the Congress accused the BJP on the eve before Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bengaluru Yellow Line. The accusations, which centred on the BJP taking unfair credit for a UPA-funded project, added a political element to an event that was supposed to mark a landmark day in urban mobility for the city.
On Sunday, PM Modi will inaugurate the much-anticipated Yellow Line as part of Namma Metro Phase 2. He is also expected to lay the foundation for Phase 3 (Orange Line) and to address residents. Karnataka’s Congress leaders, however, have come forward and asserted that the UPA-funded development of Bengaluru’s metro system was a project heavily driven by them.
Set the record straight.
Priyank Kharge, Karnataka’s Rural Development and Panchayat Raj minister, used social media to point out what he called discrepancies between the BJP’s claims regarding the Metro Project. The Metro project was initiated under the UPA government headed by Dr. Manmohan. Contrary to the BJP claims, the Centre bore a large portion of the costs during the early phases. Kharge writes that after the BJP took power, support for it dropped dramatically.
Kharge explained that in recent phases, the Karnataka government has had to shoulder a greater financial burden. The Karnataka Government, however, has borne the majority of expenses. It contributed over Rs 12 billion. The Karnataka Government has covered the land acquisition and other expenses. He claimed that the Central Government had provided only Rs. 8,000 crores. This forced BMRCL to take loans in order to pay for the rest of the project.
Karnataka Contributions Declining
Kharge’s remarks also brought to light the larger issue of Karnataka’s decreasing returns on its contributions towards the Centre. Karnataka has increased its contributions every year to central funds, but the return on those investments is steadily declining. “The Metro Yellow Line is an egregious example of the disparity,” he said.
He claimed that BJP leaders were attempting to divert public attention away from the “Vote Chori,” a reference to alleged manipulation of voter lists, and towards “Credit Chori” by hijacking acknowledgement for Namma Metro’s contribution to the state. Kharge also referred to Modi’s neglect of Karnataka’s interests, calling it an example of bias.
Metro Yellow Line Stakes
Residents of Bengaluru are eagerly awaiting the Yellow Line’s addition to the metro system. This line, which runs between RV Road, the city’s tech hub, and Bommasandra, will reduce commute times by a significant amount for residents and professionals.
Prime Minister Modi’s daylong itinerary includes a ride on the metro to Electronic City, the laying of the foundation for the Orange Line, and an address before a group of residents.
Wrapping up
Political allegations may have overshadowed the Namma Metro Yellow Line’s inauguration, but it remains an important event for Bengaluru residents. This expansion represents an important step in helping to alleviate the chronic traffic problems of Bengaluru and support its rapidly growing population.
