Bengaluru, 30 Dec

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday defended the State government's decision to provide alternate housing for "genuine" individuals whose illegally constructed houses were demolished in Kogilu during a recent demolition drive. Shivakumar dismissed allegations of "appeasement politics".

BJP leaders had accused the government of engaging in "appeasement politics" as most of the demolished illegal houses reportedly belonged to Muslims.

"There is no question of any appeasement politics. No one should indulge in illegal encroachment, we are not ready to give any gifts to illegal encroachers. We will take legal action against those behind encroachment. People have given statements that money was collected from them by a few for allowing them to construct houses there," Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru portfolio, said in the City.

"Some people are saying that they were given a title deed. It is being examined. Some who have come from outside have also joined in encroachment. We have documents. If their names are there genuinely in the voter list and other documents, we will rehabilitate such people," he said, adding that the government is not making an illegal thing legal, but is helping genuine homeless with proper documents.

At least 200 houses were demolished at Kogilu's Waseem Layout and Fakir Colony on 20 December, prompting Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to say that the bulldozer raj was coming to the South, after which the High Command intervened.

“If they (Kerala govt) want, let them take the people (involved in encroachment) to their state and give them what they want. They (Kerala govt) have not fulfilled what they had told the people in their state, during the time of disaster. We (Karnataka govt) know how to handle our people and we will do it," Shivakumar said.