Bengaluru, 5 Jan

The BJP on Monday staged a protest sit in here against the Karnataka government’s move to provide houses to those who lost their dwellings during the recent eviction of encroachments in Kogilu.

The protest, held near the Country Club on Bagalur Main Road under the slogan 'Save Kogilu, Remove Illegal Immigrants', was led by BJP state president BY Vijayendra, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, and other BJP MLAs and MLCs.

Addressing reporters, senior BJP leader Ashoka said the agitation was aimed at protecting Karnataka’s land, which he said belongs to the people of the state and should be distributed only to them.

He alleged that police stopped BJP workers nearly three kilometres away from the protest site, calling the move unfair.

Ashoka said the issue had been politicised and linked it to developments in Kerala politics.

Criticising the Congress leadership, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, he alleged that the government was using Karnataka’s land for political gain.

"Karnataka has limited land resources, and the land belongs to the people of the state, not to any individual leader," he said, adding that if Congress leaders wanted to support the move, they should offer their own land.

BJP state president Vijayendra questioned the government’s decision to provide housing to those whose homes were demolished after initially deciding to remove illegal structures.

He alleged that the decision amounted to a reversal under political pressure.