DK Shivakumar vs Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: The Battle Over Bengaluru's Crumbling Infrastructure

DK Shivakumar and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.

The online dispute between Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Biocon Chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw regarding Bengaluru's deteriorating infrastructure continues to escalate, with Shivakumar claiming on Sunday that some business leaders have "forgotten their roots."

Shivakumar stated he welcomes criticism but believes certain individuals are being excessive. He assured that such remarks would not deter him from his responsibilities.

His comments followed his previous day's suggestion that Shaw could develop roads herself if she wished to do so.

This controversy emerges amid growing criticism of the state government over Bengaluru's road conditions and traffic problems, with industry veterans including former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai and Shaw openly calling for government intervention.

"Those who established businesses here have prospered significantly. After achieving success, they've forgotten their journey from humble beginnings to their current position. If you forget your roots, you won't reap the fruits. Some have forgotten this and are criticizing through tweets," Shivakumar told a gathering in the state capital.

"I welcome all criticism, as it enhances democratic values. However, some are being excessive, but these comments won't affect me. Citizens have given us an opportunity to serve them, and that's what we intend to do," he added.

Home Minister G Parameshwara also expressed concern about the impact of such public statements on the city's infrastructure. "We aren't discouraging criticism, as industry leaders play a role in alerting us to issues. But they should consider the potential impact of their words. We're concerned about how Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw's statements might be perceived in business and industry circles," he explained, adding that the government is actively addressing these issues.

Earlier in the week, Shaw reignited the debate by sharing critical comments from a visiting overseas executive about Bengaluru's roads and waste management. This prompted Shivakumar, who oversees Bengaluru's development, to respond that the city needs collaborative efforts rather than constant criticism.

On Saturday, Shivakumar suggested Shaw could take on road development herself: "If she wants to develop them, she's welcome to do so. If she requests it, we'll allocate roads to her."

He also alleged a "personal agenda," noting that such criticisms weren't raised during the previous BJP-led state government.

"They have a personal agenda... I want to openly ask why they remained silent during the BJP government. It's their personal agenda... we will address all this," he told PTI.

Shaw refuted these allegations on Sunday, posting on X: "Not true. Both Mohandas Pai and I have criticized deteriorating infrastructure in our city to previous BJP and JDS Governments. Our agenda is clear - clean up and restore roads."

Later that day, Shaw praised Shivakumar for the state government's efforts to construct a flyover addressing traffic congestion along the Koramangala-Ejipura stretch.

Shivakumar had posted on X about visiting the Ejipura Flyover construction site, expressing satisfaction that full-scale work had commenced. He mentioned the project aims to ease traffic congestion and is scheduled for completion by June 2026.

Shaw responded by calling it a "positive development" that would "greatly relieve traffic congestion," noting it had been "10 years in the making which previous BJP and JDS governments did not prioritize. Putting this on a priority track is a good move."

The dispute began when Shaw raised concerns on October 13 about "poor roads" and excessive garbage in Bengaluru. She shared on X that an overseas business visitor to Biocon Park had questioned why the roads were so bad and there was so much garbage, wondering if the government wanted to support investment, and comparing the situation unfavorably to China.

In response, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge suggested the visitor may not have seen the complete picture, adding that infrastructure work in the city is progressing rapidly.

Karnataka Minister MB Patil acknowledged Shaw's contributions to the state but suggested her criticism was not in "good taste" since development work is ongoing.