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As Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the Karnataka chief minister for rising above party lines and inviting him for the event, Congress colleagues Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi were reportedly miffed as their names in the invitation card featured below those of Union ministers from…Read More
As Siddaramaiah — who suffered a knee injury — was wheeled onto the stage, Rajnath Singh asked him not to stand up to greet him, a gesture that showcased a rare moment of camaraderie between two leaders from opposing parties. (PTI)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has received both a pat and a rap on his back—one from the BJP and the other from his own party, Congress.
Siddaramaiah earned praise from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who called the chief minister’s invitation for him to inaugurate the ‘Global Investors’ Meet (GIM)– Invest Karnataka 2025’ a “magnanimous gesture that eloquently displays his statesmanship”.
Singh, who was in Bengaluru to inaugurate the ‘Aero India show’, was invited by the Karnataka government to participate in the inaugural ceremony.
‘Invest Karnataka 2025’ is a global investors’ summit showcasing Karnataka’s industrial growth, investment opportunities, and start-up ecosystem. Singh had been invited to its inaugural function as the chief guest.
Singh’s inaugural address was filled with political undertones as well as wit and advice, leaving Siddaramaiah grinning from ear to ear.
“When I came to Bengaluru on Saturday, I heard about chief minister Siddaramaiah’s injury. It is good to see him here, which indicates he is recovering fast. In politics, keeping your legs safe is very important,” Singh quipped, adding: “You (Siddaramaiah) have to be very mindful because you will find stumbling blocks everywhere.”
The CM, still recovering from a knee injury sustained on February 2, was wheeled onto the stage. Singh acknowledged this, saying: “Siddaramaiah is a seasoned politician, and he has been safely crossing all hurdles along his way. Today, he is the chief minister of Karnataka. I am confident he will recover quickly. I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Singh’s remarks carried an unmistakable undertone, indicating the political hurdles the Karnataka chief minister is currently facing, including speculation about an internal leadership change for the CM’s post and the controversial MUDA site allotment case in which he is under ED scrutiny.
As Siddaramaiah was wheeled onto the stage, Singh asked him not to stand up to greet him, a gesture that showcased a rare moment of camaraderie between two leaders from opposing parties. Singh also acknowledged this in his speech, stating that despite being political rivals, Siddaramaiah had graciously invited him to the event.
“We belong to different political parties, and we are political opponents. But his magnanimous gesture eloquently displays his statesmanship. It also reflects how leaders can rise together in the spirit of fraternal ties that bind all of us. His invitation and my acceptance show that in the pursuit of national interest, we stand united, unmindful of political differences,” Singh said, drawing cheers from the audience and dignitaries present.
However, while Siddaramaiah basked in praise from unlikely quarters, he faced disparagement from his own party colleagues — Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Rahul Gandhi.
According to sources within the Congress, the party’s top leadership is “quite upset” with the way the invitation for the investors’ meet has been printed. According to insiders, names of Kharge and Rahul Gandhi feature below those of some of the Union ministers from the BJP, even though the event is hosted by the ruling Congress.
“The decision of giving prominence to some Union leaders from the BJP above the Congress leadership has certainly irked them and they had expressed their regret in attending the event, citing discussions in Parliament,” said a party leader who did not want to be named.
Both Kharge and Gandhi did not attend the GIM inauguration.
The invitation card had the names of Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, HD Kumaraswamy, Piyush Goyal, Pralhad Joshi, and Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with that of Mallikarjun Kharge as the guests of honour. Kharge’s name was followed by that of Rahul Gandhi for launching the new single-window portal for the investors’ meet along with Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, MoS V Somanna and Shobha Karandlaje.
AICC general secretary and senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh confirmed that Kharge and Gandhi would not be able to attend the Bengaluru summit as they were “extremely tied up in Parliament on account of the continuing debate on the Budget”.
He added: “They have sent their best wishes for the summit and are confident that it will be a very productive and successful one, keeping with Karnataka’s unique competitive and comparative advantages.”
The summit aims to attract global investment by highlighting the state’s strategic advantages in innovation, industrial development, and global partnerships. According to Karnataka’s minister for large and medium industries MB Patil, investment proposals worth Rs 10 lakh crore are expected at the three-day event, with a target of realising at least 70 per cent of these commitments.
- Location :
Bangalore, India, India
