Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao are embroiled in a dispute over a letter allegedly written by Shivakumar to the chairman of Foxconn, urging the company to relocate its Apple AirPods manufacturing unit from Hyderabad to Karnataka. KCR has accused Shivakumar of reaching out to various national and international companies in Hyderabad and enticing them to move their factories to Karnataka.
Shivakumar, however, has dismissed the allegations, stating that the letter in question is fake. He has even filed a police complaint against the creator of the forged document. The Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) has joined the fray, accusing the Karnataka government, particularly Shivakumar, of conspiring against Hyderabad.
The BRS claims that Shivakumar sent letters to multiple companies, offering incentives for them to relocate to Bengaluru. They specifically highlight a letter allegedly written by Shivakumar to Foxconn’s CEO, urging the company to move its Apple AirPods manufacturing unit from Hyderabad to Bangalore. The BRS has posted this purported letter on social media, along with a green stamp of the Government of Karnataka.
The letter emphasizes the benefits of relocating to Bangalore, such as complementing the existing Apple phone manufacturing industry and leveraging the city’s infrastructure, transportation facilities, and available workforce. It also mentions that several international industries in Hyderabad have shown interest in moving to Bengaluru and assures the company of a friendly government in Telangana. Shivakumar has responded to the accusations made by KCR, stating that the Telangana Chief Minister is fearful and has accepted the defeat of his party.
He asserts that the letter posted by KCR is fake, pointing out that his official letters have different characteristics and do not use green-colored letterheads. Shivakumar believes that someone misused his electronic signature to create the forged letter. He has lodged a police complaint regarding this matter.
Shivakumar adds that many multinational companies have expressed interest in investing in Karnataka due to its strong government. He mentions a meeting with Toyota executives who are looking to expand their business in Bangalore. He expresses his disappointment with the involvement of his Telangana counterpart in this controversy.
It remains to be seen how this dispute will unfold, but the investigation into the fake letter will continue.
