Biocon founder Shaw harming Bengaluru’s interests with her social media posts, says Karnataka Dy CM Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Wednesday said Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw was harming the interests of Karnataka with her social media posts.

“Her posts were hurting her own as well as Bengaluru’s interests. Where was she for the last 25 years? Bengaluru has made the highest contribution to her growth. Those who criticise must remember how much land the government has given to them to establish the business in Bengaluru,” he told reporters in Bengaluru.

His terse comments came after the Biocon founder’s post on social media quoting a foreign delegate’s disappointment with the city’s roads triggered a flood of responses, most critical of the government.


Shivakumar sought to know from the companies as to what they were doing with their CSR funds.

“I am not questioning anyone. If they want to threaten us with their tweets, it is up to them. They are working against the city and the state. We are not China to take up developmental works without worrying about opposition. How many people give away their land for road widening? India is a democracy, and we need to follow the due process and limitations. She must remember where she grew up and developed her business. You can’t kick the very ladder that helped you climb,” Shivakumar said.

I LIVE IN KARNATAKA: SHAW

Earlier in the day, Shaw hit back at a Congress leader for accusing her of being soft on the BJP-ruled Maharashtra, saying she speaks on Bengaluru’s issues because she lives in Karnataka, not Maharashtra.

:I live in Karnataka, not Maharashtra. I have a vested interest in my city and state,” she retorted after AICC Secretary Mansoor Khan sought to pick holes in her criticism of handling of infrastructure and waste management in Bengaluru. Khan, who unsuccessfully contested LS polls from Bangalore Central, had in a post wondered why Shaw’s outrage was reserved only for Karnataka, but not for Maharashtra.

Khan also said the Biocon founder becomes silent when similar issues emerge in Maharashtra or at the Centre, referring to “unfair GST policies of the Centre, inequitable tax distribution.” Labour Minister Santosh Lad too attacked Shaw complaining she never posted on GST issues on social media.

The prominent business leader continued with her social media posts on Wednesday venting out her frustration over the continued neglect of roads and waste disposal. All that she was seeking, she said, was garbage clearance and road resurfacing, which ought to be done by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).

Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha member Dr CN Manjunath (BJP) disapproved of the attacks on Shaw and urged the government to take her suggestions and work on improving the infrastructure in Bengaluru and make the city globally competitive. Her views, he added, echoed the comment of a foreign visitor to Bengaluru. “Shaw has not only been an entrepreneur but has also largely contributed to the upliftment of society through various CSR initiatives,” Dr Manjunath said.