Congress Blocking Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited Revival: Kumaraswamy
The Union Minister cited the Congress led State Government has also politicized and created hurdles for the revival of Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) in Karnataka and accused the attitude of the State Government led to lack of employment opportunities to the youths.
BENGALURU: While, neighbouring States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh evince interest in revival of Vizag Steel Plant but the ruling Congress government in Karnataka caused hurdles in the way of revival of Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) having its major plant in Mangaluru, alleged Union Minister of Large Scale and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy in Mandya.
The Union Minister cited the Congress led State Government has also politicized and created hurdles for the revival of Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) in Karnataka and accused the attitude of the State Government led to lack of employment opportunities to the youths.
At the consecration ceremony of Lord Siddhi Vinayaka and Nadadevta at Handanahalli village in Malavalli taluk of Mandya, Kumaraswamy attributed “jealously” being the reason for the ruling Congress government to cause obstruction in his every step to bring a couple of industries either to Mandya, Ramanagara or Tumakuru districts and alleged “The State Government is not cooperating with me.”
He accused the State Government of obstructing his plans to revive Kudremukh Iron Ore Company and stated “I signed a proposal to provide Rs 1,700 crore financial support to Kudremukh Iron Ore Company with an intention to good for the State, However, the State Government, out of political jealousy, obstructed it.”
Adding, he stated, “Owing to the obstruction from the State Government, 2,000 employees at the Mangaluru plant lost their jobs.” Kumaraswamy stated “Ultimately, for the benefit of the employees and the State, I decided to merge Kudremukh Company with National Mineral Development Corporation.”
On the contrary to the attitude of the State Government led by Congress party, Kumaraswamy stated Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu met me multiple times with a request to revive Vizag Steel Plant, besides, leaders from Andhra Pradesh, cutting across party lines, have submitted demands on reviving Vizag Steel Plant.
He rued “In our State, politics is mixed with development” and questioned “Who suffers owing to mixing politics with development?” The Union Minister stated as a result of development mixing with politics, youths have been denied employment opportunities and asked the gathering “Who is responsible for it?”