Bridge opening: Shivamogga MP flags last-minute plan change by govt

A day after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s absence at the inauguration of India’s second-longest cable-stayed bridge across River Sharavathi in Shivamogga district, triggered a political slugfest, Shivamogga MP B Y Raghavendra on Tuesday accused the state government of changing its position on the event at the last minute.

Shivamogga: A day after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s absence at the inauguration of India’s second-longest cable-stayed bridge across River Sharavathi in Shivamogga district, triggered a political slugfest, Shivamogga MP B Y Raghavendra on Tuesday accused the state government of changing its position on the event at the last minute.

“Despite all the negative publicity about the event, the inauguration of the bridge went off successfully,” said Raghavendra.

The Shivamogga MP also took exception with Karnataka Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi not attending the event. “He (Satish) stated that he would attend the event. In fact, Satish was at Sigandur where the puja was held. But he returned without attending the inaugural ceremony, perhaps at the instance of the government, which was very unfortunate,” said Raghavendra.

Responding to AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala’s remarks that the BJP had insulted the seven crore people of the state, Raghavendra said, “I merely discharged my duty as the MP for Shivamogga. Neither I nor members of my family are looking to extract any political mileage from the event.”

Continuing his attack on the Congress government, he added, “The state government, which organised a celebratory event to commemorate RCB’s IPL victory in a day’s notice, is now giving excuses for playing truant at the inaugural ceremony. But the people of the region will see through this.”