Rome wasn't built in a day: War of words between Piyush Goyal, Karnataka minister continue

Piyush Goyal

Union Minister Piyush Goyal hit back at Karnataka Minister MB Patil’s criticism of the Centre’s Smart City projects, asserting that past achievements won’t halt India’s growth, as he envisioned a new Silicon Valley-style hub to drive growth and innovation.

The war of words between Union minister Piyush Goyal and Karnataka minister MB Patil continued on September 19, with the union minister responding to the latter's "Bengaluru wasn’t built in a day" with a sharp response.

After Patil wrote on X that "Bengaluru wasn’t built in a day; it took decades, centuries to build Bengaluru."

Goyal responded saying, "Rome was not built in a day, and the world did not stop building after that."

The altercations continued with Patil reacting to the previous retort saying, "With due respect to Namma (our own) Shri @PiyushGoyal avaru, Rome wasn’t built in a day—but unlike your Smart City projects, Rome was actually built. Your so-called vision for Smart Cities has been a colossal failure."

Also, read: Silicon Valley row: Piyush Goyal hits back at Karnataka minister, says Bengaluru suffers from state govt apathy

Responding to Goyal’s criticism of delay in building the Tumakuru township, Patil said: "Tumakuru (Bengaluru-Chennai industrial corridor): The announcement remained just on paper, serving political interests without any land acquisition or physical progress. The foundation was laid by the Hon'ble PM on Feb 1, 2023, merely as a show of intent. Not a single acre of land was acquired till our government came to power. Of the 1,700+ acres required, we have already completed 80% of the acquisition (1,450+ acres), and the project is progressing rapidly. With 250 acres already state-owned, the remaining acquisition will be completed swiftly. We don’t just talk; we deliver."

Patil further stated, "The mismanagement of Bengaluru is the legacy of the previous BJP government, which damaged the state’s reputation. Bengaluru, a city shaped by decades of foresight and leadership, deserves more thoughtful discussion on city-building, especially from those who have yet to fulfil their promises."

Also, read: Bengaluru is in India, says Karnataka minister to Piyush Goyal’s 'new Silicon Valley' pitch

He also questioned the exclusion of Karnataka from major national projects. "Karnataka has long been the epicentre of education, knowledge, and innovation, with a rich legacy of universities and intellectual contributions. We’ve always been at the forefront of technological and industrial advancements. So why were we excluded from the list of 12 Industrial Smart Cities? Why was Karnataka not given a Defence Corridor, despite contributing 63% of India’s aerospace and defence output? Why were semiconductor companies, which had shown interest in Karnataka, redirected to other states after reaching Delhi? Why is there always bias in the allocation of funds and the release of Karnataka’s rightful share? And many more..."

"While these questions remain unanswered, Karnataka is rebuilding investor confidence and continues to lead in attracting GCCs, fostering innovation, and driving growth. #KHIRCity #InspiringInnovation #ReimaginingGrowth," Patil added.