RPG Group chairman Harsh Goenka echoed Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw’s concerns about infrastructure in Bengaluru, urging politicians to be defensive and turn her comments into a political issue instead of addressing those concerns.
In a post on social media platform X, Goenka wrote, “It’s unfortunate how thin our politicians are. When @kiranshaw spoke about Bengaluru’s crumbling infrastructure, instead of fixing it, they turned it into politics. Now they will pressure her to post ‘positive tweets.'” Typical – attack the critic, not the issue.
Read also | Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw hits back after DK Shivakumar hit her over the infra remark
What is the dispute about?
Goenka’s harsh remarks come after Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on Sunday denied claims by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who accused her of having “some personal agenda” against the state government for highlighting the city’s infrastructure problems during the Congress rule.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who has often highlighted Bengaluru’s infrastructure woes in a post on X, wrote: “Not true. Both @TVMohandasPai and I have criticized the deteriorating infrastructure in our city to the previous BJP and JDS governments. Our agenda is clearly to clean up and rehabilitate roads.”
Read also | Bengaluru flyover starts hilarious social media exchange: ‘I was pregnant when…’
How did netizens react?
Several social media users reacted to Goenka’s post, with most agreeing with his sentiment, while some questioned why Bengaluru was chosen.
One user wrote: “The efforts of @kiranshaw and @TVMohandasPai must be amplified by a broad coalition of citizens to spur swift action. Leaders ultimately emerge from and reflect society, so the general public must hold them accountable and elect better representatives to create meaningful change.”
Another user added, “Bengaluru’s agony cannot be hidden under blame games! When citizens like @kiranshaw & @TVMohandasPai speak out, it’s not politics – it’s pain. Crumbling roads, suffocating traffic, heaps of garbage – this is the reality everyone lives.”
A user commented, “Companies in Karnataka should lead by example in easing traffic congestion. Implement policies like corporate transport, carpooling, promoting public transport for employees. This not only reduces road traffic and emissions but also supports the government’s efforts to improve urban mobility.”
Another user asked, “Bangalore has grown fast – no doubt about it. The last 20 years have made it a tech titan. And traffic and infrastructure is a mess in any metro or big city. So why the constant buzz about Bangalore.”
Read also DK Shivakumar slams Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw for criticizing Bengaluru infra
Kiran Majumdar Shaw’s criticism of Bengaluru’s infrastructure
The Biocon founder had earlier pointed to Bengaluru’s “bad roads” and amount of garbage, raising concerns raised by an overseas visitor.
“I had a foreign business visitor to Biocon Park say to me, ‘Why are the roads so bad and why is there so much rubbish around? Doesn’t the government want to support investment? I’ve just come from China and I don’t understand why India can’t get its act together, especially when the winds are favourable?’ she said in X’s post.
Responding to negative comments under Kiran-Majumdar Shaw’s post, former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai defended her and highlighted their posts in Bangalore.
“Both of us were born here a long time ago. Lived here all our lives and helped build our city. These hateful bigoted narratives only show the sick mind of the people who tell such narratives. If these sick people call us outsiders, then who is a Bangalorean? @kiranshaw, people know what we have done for our city and state,” Pai wrote on X.
