Bengaluru: A debate on global rankings of Bengaluru and Hyderabad led to testy exchanges in the assembly Thursday, with BJP accusing the govt of ignoring infrastructure concerns. Citing a TOI report on the ‘WeAreCity 2026′ study by UnboxingBLR and How India Lives, opposition leader R Ashoka and his BJP colleague CN Ashwath Narayan said the govt has remained quiet on key issues even as the two cities are increasingly compared. Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, also Bengaluru development minister, said the report placed Bengaluru among the world’s top tech hubs. “While San Francisco is ranked first and London second, Bengaluru stands sixth, behind Beijing. Hyderabad is placed 26. I am not keen on competing with Hyderabad,” he said. Ashoka warned the govt’s silence could take a political turn. “If you do not clarify and speak now, it will take a political turn as the INDIA block led by Congress is at the helm in Telangana and your friend Revanth Reddy is the chief minister,” he said. Narayan said comparisons were inevitable but Bengaluru remained distinct. “There is no city in India like Bengaluru,” he said. “But in terms of cost of living and facilities, Hyderabad is nearly 50% more affordable. Yet, Bengaluru’s cosmopolitan nature and talent pool are unparalleled. We must build on this.” Shivakumar said he was aware of the city’s challenges. “I have also read the TOI report. As you all know, I was born in Kanakapura and shifted to Bengaluru for schooling. Bengaluru has given me everything. I want to contribute meaningfully to its growth. I am aware that I cannot do it alone and require cooperation from all,” he said. Highlighting the state’s education base, he said Karnataka has about 250 engineering colleges and 70 medical colleges, producing nearly 14,000 doctors annually. He said many professionals in global hubs like Silicon Valley are from Karnataka. Referring to his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, he said global leaders continue to recognise Bengaluru’s talent. “The prime minister of the Netherlands told me that every two of three technocrats in Silicon Valley are from Karnataka. They are now directly collaborating with Bengaluru-based IT firms, saving nearly 40% in costs,” he said. Noting that the city has around 26 lakh IT professionals and offices of about 400 Fortune 500 companies, he said: “The American ambassador requested the names of 10 international schools as expats want their kids to study in the city. Bengaluru will continue to lead, and other cities will follow. We will build on our strengths and take the city forward.”
