Global investors' meet likely to be postponed

Severe drought becomes impediment to 'Invest Karnataka 2015'

The government is planning to postpone the global investors’ meet, ‘Invest Karnataka 2015’, scheduled to be held between November 23 and 25, in view of severe drought in several parts of the State.

Speaking to reporters after a Janata Darshan programme at his residence in Bengaluru on Tuesday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said discussions are being held to postpone the investment meet by a month or two. But the government has not taken a final decision yet. As many as 135 taluks have been declared as drought-affected, he said.

The chief minister said the meet was not held in 2014 as the State was waiting for the new industrial policy to come into effect.

According to a World Bank study, Karnataka is the ninth most industry friendly State in the country. To this Siddaramaiah, who until recently held the Industries and Commerce portfolio, said the State’s ranking has nosedived and claimed that it is indeed industry-friendly. Entrepreneurs are showing a lot of eagerness to invest in the State and it should have gotten better ranking, he said.

“The report on industry-friendly environment was sponsored by the Union government. Though the World Bank was involved in preparing the report, inputs were given by the Centre. I will go through the report,” he said.

On the State facing severe power shortage, Siddaramaiah said his government has been making efforts to purchase power from all sources. The State has not been able to get more power from outside as there is no transmission corridor, he said.

Raitha Yatra
The chief minister hit out at the State BJP leaders for taking out the Raitha Chaitanya Yatra and sought to know what purpose it has served.

“The BJP was responsible for killing two farmers in Haveri in 2008. The BJP leaders also did not open their mouth when I recently took an all-party delegation to the Prime Minister seeking assistance for drought-relief works. But now the BJP is taking out Raitha Yatra,” he said.

He downplayed JD(S) MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan’s recent statement that the Congress has not done anything for the welfare of minorities, by calling it political.

Action against seer
Siddaramaiah said appropriate legal action will be taken against Ramachandrapura mutt seer Raghaveshwara Bharathi who is facing charges of rape.

“There is no question of yielding to pressure in this case, nor can anybody interfere in the investigation. Investigating officers are making preparations for filing a charge sheet,” he said.