Bengaluru, July 14, 2025 (ANI): Regarding controversy about his absence from inauguration of Kalasavalli–Ambargondlu Bridge, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on July 14 said that he had called Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to postpone the program. He also said that protocol has been violated. “I had called Nitin Gadkari and asked him to postpone the program. He said he would postpone it. But now, bowing to the pressure from local BJP leaders, they are going ahead with the event. I have not received any invitation. We always extend cooperation to railway projects — they invite us for those. But here, protocol has been violated. As a mark of protest, none of us is participating in the program. Congress MLAs from the region, District Minister, and Minister for Public Works are all staying away. They are deliberately creating a rift between the central and state governments...,” said Siddaramaiah.
