BJP Launches Fierce Attack on Karnataka Government Over Protocol Snub
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka launched a sharp critique on Tuesday. They targeted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. The BJP accused them of displaying misplaced priorities. This came after both Congress leaders were absent from Bengaluru to welcome German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Leaders Choose Mysuru Over Bengaluru for Political Reception
Instead of being in the state capital, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar traveled to Mysuru. Their purpose was to receive senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Gandhi was merely transiting through Karnataka on his way to Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, Chancellor Merz arrived in Bengaluru for an official two-day visit to India.
R Ashoka, the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, voiced strong disapproval. He took to social media platform X to express his concerns. Ashoka stated the Congress government had clearly missed a significant opportunity. He emphasized that welcoming the head of government from a major global economy should have been a top priority.
Allegations of Betrayal and Misplaced Loyalty
"Whose interests come first, Karnataka's or the High Command's?" Ashoka questioned in his post. He described the German Chancellor's visit as holding immense diplomatic, economic, and strategic significance for the state. Any responsible chief minister, he argued, would have seized this golden opportunity.
Such a meeting could have been leveraged to boost investment, create jobs, and spur industrial development across Karnataka. Ashoka did not mince words, labeling the absence not just a protocol lapse. "This isn't merely a lapse in protocol; it's a betrayal of Karnataka's interests," he wrote emphatically.
Contrasting Itineraries Highlight the Issue
While the state's top leaders were in Mysuru, Chancellor Merz conducted his official program in Bengaluru. His schedule included a visit to the Bosch campus located in Adugodi. He also toured the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering at the prestigious Indian Institute of Science before departing the city.
Ashoka pointedly contrasted the two events. "But while the German chancellor landed in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar chose to be in Mysuru to receive Rahul Gandhi, who was merely transiting to Ooty. Let that sink in," he added, underscoring his criticism.
Call for Leadership Focused on State Progress
The opposition leader concluded with a broader indictment of the current administration's priorities. He asserted that Karnataka deserves leadership that consistently puts the state before the party. Progress should always come before power politics, and global opportunities must not be sacrificed for political appeasement.
Ashoka firmly stated that the Congress party had failed the people of Karnataka in this instance. The episode has sparked a fresh political debate about the balance between party loyalty and state-level diplomatic engagement.
