Bengaluru, 5 Feb

Karnataka Minister MB Patil on Thursday welcomed the initiative taken by Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and HD Kumaraswamy to discuss the proposed Bengaluru-Pune-Mumbai high-speed rail corridor.

"Immediately after the budget, I said there was a need for a high-speed rail corridor between Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai. I thank Union Ministers Joshi and Kumaraswamy for taking up the matter with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. There is no politics in this. It should not remain a discussion alone, and I appeal that it be taken to its logical conclusion," The Minister for Large and Medium Industries told press on Thursday.

He said improved connectivity between Bengaluru, the country’s technology capital, and Mumbai, the financial capital, would benefit large parts of central and NorthernKarnataka as well as western Maharashtra.

Referring to the Union Budget announcements, Patil said the Centre had proposed seven high-speed rail corridors, including Bengaluru-Hyderabad and Bengaluru-Chennai.

"While this is welcome, these two corridors will not bring significant benefits to our State. If a Bengaluru-Pune-Mumbai corridor is implemented, regions such as Tumakuru, Davanagere, Hubballi, Belagavi, Sangli and Kolhapur will benefit, boosting economic and industrial growth," he added, noting that the officials had previously written several times to the senior Central leaders.

No politics in Lingayat legislator meeting

MB Patil said the recent meeting of the Lingayat Congress legislators was not a show of strength, but it was for the welfare of the community. According to him, the Aland MLA BR Patil had mooted the proposal, which Ramdurg MLA Ashok Pattan endorsed and convened a meeting of the Lingayat legislators a few days ago. “It was not a power display. Discussions were held only on community welfare,” MB Patil asserted.

“We are the biggest chunk. Our striking rate is the highest,” he added. Highlighting the community’s political contribution, he said, “In 1989, with Lingayat support, the Congress won 178 seats and created history. Our party (Congress) gave ticket to 56 Lingayat leaders in the 2023 Assembly election, out of which 36 had won.”

“Seeking adequate representation in the government is not wrong, but we will not take away another community’s share,” MB Patil said.