Karnataka incharge and AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala's presence in an official meeting of the civic body officers in Bengaluru on Tuesday has sparked a controversy. Opposition parties have taken a strong exception to Surjewala, who does not hold any constitutional post in the state, attending an official meeting of the government.
The meeting was held at a private hotel in the city and was chaired by Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar and attended by BBMP commissioner Tushar Girinath, BDA commissioner Rakesh Singh, Energy Minister K.J. George and Shivaji Nagar MLA Rizwan Arshad, among others.
The matter came under the scrutiny of both the BJP and the JD(S), after a photograph of the meeting went viral.
The BJP, which slammed the Congress government as "ATM Sarkara", alleged that the "secret meeting" was a way of the Gandhi family controlling the Congress government in Karnataka.
In a series of tweets, the BJP slammed Surjewala's presence at the meeting saying, "The secret meeting held at Bangalore's Shangri-La Hotel is just another way of Gandhis' trying to control Karnataka. The family has sent their close aide Randeep Surjewala, who neither holds any position at BDA/BBMP nor in the government to decide on Karnataka’s matters.
“What is his capacity or authority to chair the meeting with the BBMP and BDA Commissioners/Officials ? Is this where the "85% deals" are being orchestrated by the #ATMSarkara to raise funds ahead of 2024 Elections?."
“Karnataka now has a "High Command-controlled government" and not the Siddaramaiah government.
"Is this Siddaramaiah government or the one controlled by 10, Janpath Marg in Delhi? Did the Karnataka voters elect a Congress government or a puppet government? It is the misfortune of Karnataka that the official meeting of this government is being chaired by actors from the High Command's house. The photo is evidence of the pathetic state of affairs. Who has entrusted Surjewala of conducting the official meetings? I can see senior ministers and IAS officers are present in the meeting," said former chief minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy.
Meanwhile, Shivakumar dismissed the charges saying the officers had come to the hotel to take him to the Bangalore Development Authority meeting scheduled at Hebbal.
