'Even London faces floods': D K Shivakumar, home minister defend government amid criticism on Bengaluru rains

Bengaluru: Facing criticism for the flood situation in parts of Bengaluru, two senior ministers defended the state government on Wednesday, insisting it was "doing its best". 

Home Minister G Parameshwara pointed out that even cities like New York, Washington DC and London experience flash floods, while Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar asked the Opposition to "stop shaming Bengaluru". 

Responding to the BJP and JD(S) leaders mocking the Congress government’s ‘Brand Bengaluru’ project, Parameshwara said: "It is unprecedented... have you seen such rainfall before? We’re also shocked that it’s raining like this in October." 

He added: "Any city with whatever system will face problems. Doesn’t this happen in New York, Washington and London? It keeps happening and we need to manage the situation." 

Parameshwara, who previously served as the Bengaluru development minister, also used logic to defend his government: "We can’t send the rain back into the sky. Water must flow on the ground." 

This sentiment was echoed by Shivakumar, who is also the Bengaluru development minister. "It is not possible to control nature. These are unexpected rains due to cyclones. The government is doing the best it can to manage rain havoc. The Opposition must stop tarnishing Bengaluru's image," he told reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence. 

Stating that there is a likelihood of rainfall in the next two days as well and there may be traffic jams, he said a holiday had been declared for schools as a precautionary measure and asked the public to plan accordingly.

On Wednesday, union minister H D Kumaraswamy went after the Congress government over “the utter collapse” of the city’s infrastructure. “The Silicon Valley of India is now drowning in Congress’ negligence,” the JD(S) leader said. 

Kumaraswamy also expressed concerns over investors deserting the city. “Congress' weak policies have ruined Brand Bengaluru. Potential investors are backing off, questioning how a 'global tech hub' can't handle basic urban management. Wake up! The city's future is at stake,” he said. 

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, said the Congress government had sought more time to fix the city. “It’s been one-and-a-half years. What has this government done? Yelahanka, Byatarayanapura, KR Puram and Manyata Tech Park have seen flooding. Brand Bengaluru has become just an empty slogan,” he said.