Former Medical Education Minister and Congress troubleshooter DK Shivakumar has written to Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa demanding that a medical college and hospital be constructed in his constituency – Kanakapura.
In his letter, DK Shivakumar accuses BS Yediyurappa of reneging on the promise he made after he took oath as the Chief Minister on July 26. “After assuming office as Chief Minister of Karnataka, you promised you would never indulge in vengeful politics… I was totally dismayed that such a decision taken by you, after making the promise of never resorting to vendetta politics,” DK Shivakumar’s letter states.
DK Shivakumar, in his letter, also accused Yediyurappa of cancelling the project “overnight”. “I was shocked to learn that your government, with a single-member cabinet took a decision to cancel it (medical college construction) overnight and transfer/re-allot the same to Chikkaballapura,” Shivakumar’s letter states.
DK Shivkumar stated that the announcement to construct a medical college and hospital in Kanakapura was included in the 2018-19 budget, which was also passed after debate. Shivakumar has also stated that Yediyurappa had supported the construction of the medical college at Kanakapura in 2018 during the debate regarding the budget. The proposal to construct KIMS Hospital in Kanakapura was subsequently passed by the state cabinet during Kumaraswamy’s tenure and also approved by the departments of finance, planning and law and parliamentary affairs.
The government order for the same was issued on December 13, 2018. In January 2018, a total of 25 acres of land was allotted for the construction of the college in Kanakpura’s Rayasandra village. The detailed project report (DPR) and preparations of estimates and tenders were also allotted by the end June, Shivakumar claims. However, the foundation stone was not laid as the rebel leaders resigned and flew to Mumbai, which subsequently brought down the Congress-JD(S) coalition.
He, however, said that he has no issue of a medical college being constructed in Chikkaballapura but also warned of legal action if the government did not permit the construction of a medical college in Kanakapura.
“I will be constrained to resort to serious action in my own way to get justice to the people of Kanakapura for which, I hope, you will not give scope,” he said.
In early November, DK Shivakumar had accused the BJP government of transferring the funds meant for construction of the medical college in Kanakapura to Chikkaballapura. Shivakumar had accused the BJP of trying to appease the rebel MLA from Chikkaballapura, Sudhakar.
Terming it as his "dream project," Shivakumar had earlier vowed to "lay down his life" for a medical college in Kanakapura.
Yediyurappa had later told the media that the government was going to set up medical colleges at the district level and subsequently look into constructing them in taluks like Kanakapura.
Shivakumar’s letter comes in the wake of the Yediyurappa government being unwilling to go ahead with the construction.