Bengaluru, 28 Dec

The demolition of houses in Kogilu’s Waseem Layout and Fakir Colony in north Bengaluru has ignited a political dispute, with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar stating the government is considering rehabilitation for genuine residents.

The demolition, carried out by Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited on December 20, aimed to clear encroachments for a proposed solid waste processing unit. Officials maintained that most of the occupants were migrants from other states and that the houses were constructed without permission.

"....our officials had given proper notice (before demolition). We are ready to rehabilitate those people if they are genuine and if they are local people. We will do whatever the best help we can under the Rajiv Gandhi housing scheme," Shivakumar, who also oversees Bengaluru development, told reporters.

StateHousing Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, who visited the site, added that CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM Shivakumar have called a meeting on Monday to decide on alternative arrangements for affected families. "We can expect some good news," he said, noting that temporary shelter arrangements were offered, but many residents feared losing their homes entirely.

The demolition sparked political backlash, drawing criticism from Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, who called it a "brutal normalisation of the bulldozer raj." AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal also expressed concern, urging greater caution, sensitivity, and compassion, emphasizing the human impact of such actions.

Reacting, the opposition BJP accused Venugopal of overstepping. Leader of Opposition R Ashoka questioned, "Who is KC Venugopal to 'intervene' in the administration of Karnataka? Is he a Super CM, or does the Congress high command believe elected state governments function on Delhi diktats?" He further added, "Karnataka is not a colony of Rahul Gandhi and his coterie."

Shivakumar, however, clarified that Venugopal’s comments were advisory in nature and did not amount to interference. "Venugopal, as a General Secretary of the party, has the power to advise us -- that if anything is there we should go in a larger interest," he said, comparing it to the BJP party advisors during their tenure.

Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan accused Kerala CM of politicising the issue ahead of state polls. Several Kerala politicians and organisations have visited Kogilu, which has led some to term the intervention as "minority vote bank politics," given that most affected residents are Muslim.

Kerala MLA KT Jaleel, who also visited the site, questioned the government’s approach, saying, "There is no difference between Congress and BJP....people have said they have not got any notice before demolition. The government should take steps to rehabilitate affected people at alternative places."

Sources report that many families continue to resist relocation despite losing their homes, underscoring the sensitive balance between urban development and residents’ rights.