DON'T CRITICISE CITIZENS DEMANDING BETTER INFRA

HE acrimonious exchange between Karnataka’s top political and corporate leaders over Bengaluru’s failing infrastructure has only served to highlight the reality that has become the city’s identity—cratered roads, traffic bottlenecks, and garbage piles.

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Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar Shaw was not off the mark when she said these pain points would lead to a loss of investment. She and other industrialists including former Infosys CFO T V Mohandas Pai have called out civic deficiencies no matter which party is at the helm. Yet, what followed this time ‘was amusing retaliation from Chief Minister Siddaramai-ah, Deputy CM D K Shivakumar and Industries Minister M B Patil, accusing those who had made their fortunes in Bengaluru of “kicking the ladder” they used to climb up. Shivakumar reminded the business community that the city had contributed land and resources for their companies. It was the reaction of a