RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka has supported Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw’s concerns over the infrastructure of Bengaluru, calling out politicians for being defensive and turning her comments into a political issue instead of addressing the concerns.
In a post on the social media platform X, Goenka wrote, “It’s unfortunate how thin-skinned our politicians are. When @kiranshaw spoke up about Bengaluru’s crumbling infrastructure, instead of fixing it, they turned it into politics. Now they’ll pressurize her to post “positive tweets.” So typical- attack the critic, not the problem.”
What is the controversy about?
Harsh Goenka’s remarks come after Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on Sunday denied the claims of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who accused her of having “some personal agenda” against the state government for highlighting the infrastructural concerns of the city during Congress rule.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who has frequently highlighted the infrastructural issues of Bengaluru in a post on X wrote, “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.”
How did netizens react?
Several social media users have reacted to Goenka’s post, where most agreed with his sentiment, while some questioned why Bengaluru has been singled out.
One of the users wrote, “The efforts of @kiranshaw and @TVMohandasPai must be amplified by a broad coalition of citizens to drive swift action. Ultimately, leaders emerge from and reflect society, so the large public must hold them accountable and choose better representatives to create meaningful change.”
Another user added, “Bengaluru’s agony can’t be hidden under blame games! When citizens like @kiranshaw & @TVMohandasPai speak up, it’s not politics — it’s pain. Crumbling roads, choking traffic, garbage piles — this is everyone’s lived reality.”
A user noted,”Companies in Karnataka should lead by example in easing traffic congestion. Implement policies like company transport, carpooling, promoting public transit for employees. This not only reduces road traffic & emissions but also supports government efforts to improve urban mobility.”
Another user questioned, “Bangalore’s grown fast—no doubt. The last 20 years turned it into a tech titan. And Traffic and Infrastructure are mess in every metro or big city. So why the constant noise about Bangalore.”
Kiran Majumdar Shaw’s criticism of Bengaluru infrastructure
The Biocon founder earlier pointed out the “poor roads” and the amount of garbage in Bengaluru, highlighting concerns raised by an overseas business visitor.
“I had an overseas business visitor to Biocon Park who said, ‘Why are the roads so bad and why is there so much garbage around? Doesn’t the Govt want to support investment? I have just come from China and cant understand why India can’t get its act together especially when the winds are favourable?” she said in an X post.
While responding to negative comments under Kiran-Majumdar Shaw’s post, former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai defended her, highlighting their contributions to Bangalore.
“We are both born here a long time ago. We have lived here all our lives and helped build our city. These kind of hate filled bigoted narratives only show the sick mind of people who make such narratives. If these sick people call us outsiders then who is a Bangalorean? @kiranshaw what we have done for our city and state people know well,” Pai wrote on X.
