Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai made an emotional pitch at the closing ceremony of the three-day Global Investors Meet (GIM) summit, which appears to be the last attempt by Corporate India to be seen as an able, efficient and transparent administrator. Maybe his own party before next year’s elections in his state.
Like a young start-up trying to draw attention to his product, the 62-year-old leader delivered an hour-long speech by intertwining statements hoping to achieve much more on social and economic reforms, balance in society, caste prosperity Diya – Political capital is needed.
In the process of highlighting his own ‘achievements’, Bommai appeared to ridicule the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments of the past, which included his mentor and predecessor BS Yediyurappa as well as the governments of the opposition.
“This investor summit is much more important than the previous one,” he said, embellishing his statements with adjectives like “extraordinary” and “courageous.” The Karnataka CM also reprimanded a member of the audience, possibly a representative, for talking during his speech.
“What does Karnataka think today, what India thinks tomorrow,” the chief minister said, adding that the state had a “very, very serious government”, which aimed not only to demonstrate the MoU (memorandum of understanding), but also Had to convert it. land investment.
Infighting, diverting attention from allegations of corruption?
Under pressure from mounting allegations bribeWith crumbling infrastructure and lack of development under his watch, Bommai has tried hard to divert attention from such glaring problems infighting Within his own government and a challenge to his authority as elections near.
Bommai said that in the last four editions of GIM, the conversion rate of MoUs is between 8 per cent and 44 per cent.
In the first edition of GIM in 2000, he said, only Rs 12,000 crore of the total Rs 27,057 crore was recovered, while in 2010 only 14 per cent of the Rs 3.94 lakh crore was recovered. In 2012, of the Rs 6.77 lakh crore promised, only 8 per cent were realized and in the previous edition in 2016, only 15 per cent of the total Rs 3.05 lakh crore was realized.
The BJP was in power during the 2010 and 2012 GIM under the leadership of BS Yediyurappa and DV Sadananda Gowda respectively, which makes the attacks all the more interesting as Bommai tries hard to break out of the shadow of his former mentor and the BJP’s face. are seen as. in Karnataka.
His speech was clearly aimed not only at his opponents outside the convention venue but also at some of the people on the same platform. industry minister Murugesh Nirani Long has nurtured an ambition to be seen as a serious challenger to the top job in government.
The head of the Nirani Lingayats are from the Panchamasali sub-sect, and influential seers from the community have intensified their demands, demanding better reservation opportunities and a chance for a member of their own for the top job. Senior BJP leader and ousted minister also KS Eshwarappa It was said that Nirani would soon become the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, Bommai said that no government would disclose the low conversion rate of the MoUs signed during the summit. “I want to bring transparency, and I want to be honest to my people and all investors. Of the total MoUs of Rs 9.8 lakh crore so far, projects worth Rs 2.83 lakh crore have already been approved, which is 29 per cent. is attainment.
“Honesty is the best policy. Sometimes [while] In trying to camouflage, we beat ourselves up. so i believe in that [honesty], I have been very forthright, I could have been more clear but I don’t think it is necessary now,” the Karnataka chief minister insisted.
(Edited by VS Chandrasekhar)
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