“If Mazumdar wants to develop the roads, let her do it!” : D K Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s arrogant remark after Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw’s criticism of Bengaluru’s road infrastructure

Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and ‘Biocon’ founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Bengaluru (Karnataka) – “If she wants to develop the roads, let her do it. If she comes and asks, we’ll let her take it up,” said Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in an arrogant remark. He was responding to Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who had criticised the poor road infrastructure in Bengaluru. Shivakumar made this comment at an event held in K R Puram, Bengaluru.

📍Karnataka Dy CM D.K. Shivakumar tells Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar,
“If she wants better roads, she should build them herself!”

So this is what citizens get for demanding accountability?

Instead of fixing Bengaluru’s crumbling infrastructure, the Deputy CM mocks those who… pic.twitter.com/LMpt2mELHO

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) October 21, 2025

1.  In a post on ‘X’, Mazumdar-Shaw had written that a foreign business guest visiting Biocon Park in Bengaluru asked, “Why are the roads here in such bad condition? Why is there so much garbage around? Doesn’t the Government want to support investment? I’ve just come from China, and I can’t understand why India, despite having potential, can’t get its act together.” 2.  Responding to the criticism, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said, “Perhaps that guest didn’t see the entire city. Infrastructure works are progressing rapidly. I don’t know which part of Bengaluru he visited. As I said, work is ongoing.” (If the public begins to feel that Priyank Kharge is more interested in criticising the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) than focusing on issues like roads and cleanliness, would that be wrong ? When foreign guests insult India, can such matters be resolved merely through verbal responses instead of prompt action ? – Editor) 3.  Karnataka Minister M B Patil acknowledged Mazumdar-Shaw’s contribution to the state but remarked that it was inappropriate of her to criticise while development work was ongoing. (If someone merely points out the reality, shouldn’t it be accepted ? What do the Congress ministers expect to achieve by dismissing genuine criticism ? – Editor)

Not true. Both @TVMohandasPai and I have criticised deteriorating infrastructure in our city to previous BJP & JDS Governments. Our agenda is clear clean up and restore roads. https://t.co/JYnQ1u7K7r

— Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (@kiranshaw) October 19, 2025

Editorial Perspective

When someone points out shortcomings in the Government’s responsibilities, instead of accepting them and improving, telling that person to fix the issue themselves is sheer arrogance. The people of Karnataka should hold Shivakumar accountable for such behaviour !