New Delhi: Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy has criticised the proposal to rename Ramanagara district as Bengaluru South district.

Reacting to mediapersons, Kumaraswamy said that he would reverse the plan, if implemented, in the event of his return as Chief Minister of the State.

Stating that the motive behind renaming of Ramanagara district was to exploit the real estate opportunities, Kumaraswamy expressed confidence of returning to power as Chief Minister and to reinstate Ramanagara district.

He also added that the renaming of Ramanagara district as ‘Bengaluru South’ would be an insult to Lord Rama.

“Ramanagara has a historical significance. The Deputy Chief Minister must explain about benefits to the residents by renaming the district as Bengaluru South. Renaming the district would only inconvenience both the public and officials,” he added.

Kumaraswamy, who took a direct dig at Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar and his younger brother and former MP D.K. Suresh, said, “The so-called leaders of the district must concentrate on developing the district and not on real estate business.”

It may be recalled that Ramanagara was carved out as a district in 2007 during H.D. Kumaraswamy’s first term as the Chief Minister when the JD(S)-BJP coalition was in power.