Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
Credit: PTI Photo
Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said the government's decision to rename Ramanagara district as ‘Bengaluru South’ was to utilise the brand of the capital city to give a new direction to next generation and bring development to the region.
Noting that the government was not changing the name of the district headquarter town Ramanagara, he said only that of the district will be changed, which comprises four Taluks – Ramanagara, Channapatna, Kanakapura and Magadi.
“We are not touching Ramanagara (town). Bengaluru is our district. Those living in Ramanagara Taluk, Channapatna Taluk, Kanakapura Taluk and Magadi Taluk are our people. Ours is Bengaluru, not Ramanagara,” Shivakumar, who is Kanakapura Congress MLA, told reporters here.
The Karnataka cabinet on Friday approved changing the name of Ramanagara as Bengaluru South district.
“Today Bengaluru is famous worldwide. Why should we spoil the name given by our forefathers?” Shivakumar pointed out.
The Deputy CM insisted that Ramanagara will remain the headquarters of the proposed Bengaluru South district.
Explaining the reason behind the change of name, he said, “We are thinking about our next generation to give them a new direction, good thoughts, new ideas and their development.” On Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries H D Kumaraswamy’s statements against the decision, Shivakumar said Kumaraswamy’s politics revolved around wishing for his downfall.
“He (Kumaraswamy) sleeps and gets up thinking of our downfall even though we do good to him. I am aware of his actions, behaviour, sentiments, conduct and thoughts.
Kumaraswamy has slammed the state government's decision to rename Ramanagara as Bengaluru South.
Kumaraswamy was the CM when Ramanagara district was carved out in August 2007 from four Taluks of Bengaluru.
He was also the MLA from the same district.
The Union Minister said, “Shivakumar was an MLA (of Kanakapura constituency) from the same district when the district was formed. Why didn’t he protest in 2007 (when the name was changed). It was done unanimously and no one protested in the Vidhana Soudha.”
Responding to remarks of Kumaraswamy that the name of the district will be changed again when the Congress loses in the next election, Shivakumar said, “It’s not in his destiny. Congress will return to power in 2028.”