'Trend Of Attacking Those Who Speak Up For Bengaluru Is Wrong': Mohandas Pai To News18 | Exclusive

Last Updated:October 21, 2025, 11:07 IST

The industrialist, who has been tagged an outsider & is being dragged for highlighting the crumbling infrastructure, said the issue has been raised for 3 decades and isn't new

Mohandas Pai

Aarin Capital chairperson and former Infosys CFO TV Mohandas Pai has said the new trend of attacking those who speak up for Bengaluru is “very wrong", while hitting back at those questioning his identity as a Kannadiga.

Pai, in an exclusive interview with News18, said those who termed him—and Biocon’s Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw—“outsiders" were “hate mongers and bigoted minds who only try to divide people on the basis of language and other identities".

The comments came in the wake of criticism from Karnataka’s deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, who suggested that corporate leaders were criticising the Congress government on civic issues while remaining silent during previous BJP and JD(S) regimes.

“Many chief ministers have come and gone, but no chief minister has refused to help, and no political leader has ever abused us. This new trend of attacking those who speak up for Bengaluru is very wrong. The question these politicians need to answer is what would SM Krishna have done if people complained about infrastructure? Would he have abused them? That’s the question we need answered."

He added: “All of us who live in Karnataka are Kannadigas. And for particular purposes, like government jobs, there’s a definition of who is considered a Kannadiga. But all of us are Indians, wherever we live, in whichever part of India."

The controversy erupted after social media posts repeatedly referred to Pai as “Konkani" and Mazumdar-Shaw as “Gujarati", questioning their roots in Karnataka. Pai also emphasised that the Constitution clearly allows every Indian citizen to reside in any part of the country without restrictions.

Pai highlighted that industrialists have always spoken up for Bengaluru’s growth and infrastructure. “We have raised issues during HD Deve Gowda’s tenure as urban development minister during his time as prime minister in 1996–97, when SM Krishna was chief minister, under HD Kumaraswamy, BS Yediyurappa, the previous Siddaramaiah government, and Basavaraj Bommai’s term as well. We have spoken up and criticised what is wrong."

Pai described the trolls as ill-informed and bigoted. “We’ve been talking about infrastructure for 15–20 years. I’ve spoken about corruption 10–15 years ago, even in the Bommai government. We’ve met chief ministers, discussed issues continuously. Nothing has happened just now. The situation has only worsened and more people are very angry," he reiterated.

Calling the debate over Karnataka and being a Kannadiga the “ranting of bigoted minds trying to divide people", he asked others to ignore them.

“Who are these people to question our identity as Kannadigas? They must ask themselves who they are. All these bigoted people should be ignored. Political leaders shouldn’t encourage them," he said, adding that both he and Mazumdar-Shaw were born and raised in Bengaluru. “We have lived here all our lives and helped build the city."

On dealing with trolls, Pai said: “These are hate-mongers. Reasonable people in Bengaluru know political leaders shouldn’t fall prey to them or make excuses. We have spoken up when earlier governments have not delivered. The key question is: what are you doing to improve life for all citizens? There’s no excuse for non-performance. The metro is behind by five years, roads are not maintained, the city is dirty. Can you blame traffic? No. It’s mismanagement."

Pai recalled previous interventions by the industry and how they were acted upon; for instance, the need to expand Bellary Road next to the Palace and Palace Orchards was highlighted and the request was considered and work done.

“Hebbal Flyover work began under the Bommai government and is now completing two more loops. Peripheral Road and Nandi Road expansions go back 30-35 years. Hosur Road work started in 1995. People have forgotten that these are long-standing issues. The problems remain because governments haven’t planned ahead for the last 30 years."

He also spoke about the Outer Ring Road. “Five years ago, ORR was better. Now, with metro delays and potholes, it’s clear that it’s mismanagement and corruption, not rain. Potholes exist in South Bombay, Lutyens Delhi, and Mount Road in Chennai. Everywhere, roads are maintained differently. Bad roads are due to poor engineering, corruption, and lack of proper materials."

The industrialist criticised ministers like Priyank Kharge, who he said were using growth as an excuse for poor infrastructure. “Some say there has been high growth for 30 years. Growth didn’t happen yesterday. This government has been in power for two-and-a-half years; it didn’t just come yesterday. I’ve spoken about corruption under earlier governments too."

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw was amply clear in her stance as well. Responding to social media posts labelling her a “Gujarati", she asserted her strong Bengaluru roots. “I am more Kannadiga than you think," she said.

Her criticism of Bengaluru’s pothole-filled roads and mounting garbage has resonated widely, drawing massive support online as well as from opposition leaders in Karnataka, including BJP and JD(S) figures. Shivakumar, however, said comments by Pai and Mazumdar-Shaw “hurt the state".

At a people’s outreach programme in East Bengaluru, Shivakumar alleged, “They have some personal agenda. Why didn’t they speak up during the BJP regime?"

Mazumdar-Shaw and Pai have consistently highlighted poor infrastructure in the city. Mazumdar-Shaw recently took to X to share a conversation with a Chinese visitor to the Biocon Park who asked why the “roads are so bad and why is there so much garbage around? Doesn’t the government want to support investment?" Tagging chief minister Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, and Priyank Kharge, she added: “I have just come from China and can’t understand why India can’t get its act together, especially when the winds are favourable."

Shivakumar said industrialists who built their fortunes in Bengaluru were now turning against the city. “They are forgetting their humble beginnings and how the city helped them grow. We should not forget our roots," he said.

Responding to Shivakumar’s remarks, Mazumdar-Shaw tweeted, “Not true. Both @TVMohandasPai and I have raised concerns about the city’s infrastructure with previous BJP and JD(S) governments. Our goal has always been clear—fix the roads and clean up the city."

In response, Shivakumar listed ongoing infrastructure projects—tunnels, elevated corridors, double-decker flyovers, and buffer roads—costing over Rs 1 lakh crore, claiming they aim for the “integrated development" of the city. “We have formed five corporations to bring governance closer to the people," he added.

Mazumdar-Shaw later commented on the Ejipura flyover project, calling it a “positive development that will greatly relieve traffic congestion and has been 10 years in the making—something previous BJP and JD(S) governments did not prioritise". “Putting this on a priority track is a good move by DK Shivakumar," she posted on X.

Rohini Swamy

Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18’s digital platform. She has previously worked with t...Read More

Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18’s digital platform. She has previously worked with t...

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