Priyank Kharge stated that IT and BT companies are hesitating to invest in the coastal cities owing to frequent communal tensions.

Objecting to Priyank Kharge, Minister for Information Technology (IT), Biotechnology (BT), and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, projecting the coastal belt in a poor light by stating that IT and BT companies are hesitant to invest in coastal cities owing to frequent communal tensions, the BJP sought an apology from the Minister.

The party also took strong exception to Mr. Kharge likening the RSS and the BJP to a devil and its shadow.

Addressing presspersons on Monday, Y. Bharat Shetty, Mangaluru City North MLA, said that the Minister made an irresponsible statement and should apologise. “Mr. Kharge should make it clear who is communal in the coastal belt,” the MLA said.

Dr. Shetty said that as IT Minister, Mr. Kharge could not get the tender document floated to set up an IT park, as announced by the State government, on 3.5 acres of government land in Mangaluru.

Mr. Kharge has again attacked the RSS by accusing it of indulging in “money laundering”, to appease Congress leader Rahul Gandhi ahead of the Cabinet reshuffle in the State, the MLA said, adding that Mangaluru is the safest city and private investors are investing in the coastal belt.

Satish Kumpala, president of BJP’s Dakshina Kannada unit, said that as IT Minister, Mr. Kharge should make it clear how many jobs the government has created in the coastal belt.

“Mr. Kharge should come out with details on the government’s investment in coastal region,” he added.

Mr. Kumpala said that the coastal belt is educationally forward, with a number of educational institutes. Dakshina Kannada alone has eight private medical colleges. “Mr. Kharge should understand that five major banks, including four nationalised ones, took birth in the coastal belt,” he said.

The BJP leader said that a number of entrepreneurs in the coastal belt have created ample jobs.

Criticising the Minister for branding the coastal belt as “communal”, Mr. Kumpala alleged that Mr. Kharge has a “jihadi mindset”.

Mr. Kumpala said that the “Kharge family” which is dominating politics in the Kalaburagi region could not even provide a proper drinking water project to Kalaburagi city. The region still remains backward, he added.

The BJP leader said that the coastal belt has grown over the period under the leadership of elected representatives of different parties.

Mr. Kharge should stop speaking lightly on the coastal belt, particularly Dakshina Kannada, Mr. Kumpala stated.