NEW DELHI: Andhra Pradesh IT minister Nara Lokesh has hit out at Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar, saying, “We don’t dismiss our people’s genuine grievances as ‘Blackmail’. We treat them with the dignity and seriousness they deserve.” The comments come amid speculation over Bengaluru-based logistics firm BlackBuck, after CEO Rajesh Yabaji’s post triggered debate about infrastructure and corporate relocation.BlackBuck has since clarified that it is not leaving the city, but merely shifting offices within Bengaluru to reduce employee commute. In his post on X, Yabaji described Bengaluru as “home” and credited the Outer Ring Road corridor and Karnataka’s tech ecosystem for supporting BlackBuck’s growth since it began in Koramangala in 2015. While parts of its operations will continue on ORR, the company said it remains committed to expanding in the city and working with local authorities. The speculation prompted a strong response from Shivakumar. “No one can threaten or blackmail the govt. I will not stop anyone from going,” he told reporters. “I wish them all the good luck. If they are not satisfied with manpower, talent, or facilities, I cannot stop them, but no one can threaten the govt – I am telling you this.” Shivakumar added that Bengaluru remains unmatched as a business hub. “No one will go out of Bengaluru for infrastructure reasons. If they do, it will be due to business or financial problems. Blackmailing the govt will not help. Let them go wherever they want — no city can match Bengaluru.” He also highlighted changes in civic governance, including the creation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority, which split the city into five corporations and 198 wards to cope with population pressures, acknowledging that some localities, like Mahadevapura, straddle multiple administrative limits.
