Bengaluru, Dec. 27 – The All India Congress Committee (AICC) voiced strong objections this Saturday to the Karnataka government’s recent bulldozing campaign aimed at removing illegal buildings in the city, arguing that the operation should have been handled with more care and human‑centric thinking.
General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, said after meeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar that the demolition of unauthorized structures in Kogilu village “should have been undertaken with far greater caution, sensitivity and compassion, keeping the human impact at the centre.” He promised that the state leadership would personally engage with the displaced families, set up proper grievance redressal mechanisms, and ensure rehabilitation and relief for those affected.
The controversy was sparked by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s allegation that Karnataka was using a “bulldozer model” similar to Uttar Pradesh to evict Muslim residents from parts of Bengaluru. Shivakumar called the comments “politically motivated” and urged Vijayan to refrain from interfering in Karnataka’s internal affairs. “Without knowing the facts, Mr Pinarayi should not interfere in our state’s affairs. These are political gimmicks ahead of elections,” he said.
Shivakumar, who also oversees the Bengaluru development portfolio, clarified that the demolitions took place at a quarry site that had been designated for garbage disposal nearly ten years ago, citing safety and health hazards that prohibited illegal occupation. He said that those who possess valid land documents and are registered residents will be assisted. “Those who are eligible will certainly be rehabilitated,” he added.
Explaining the removal process, Shivakumar noted that the structures appeared overnight and that after consulting local representatives and officials, an order was issued to clear the area “without troubling anyone.” He denied using bulldozers and insisted that the ground only involved vacating public land earmarked for waste disposal. “We did not use bulldozers at all,” he stressed. “We only vacated a public place in the heart of the city. It is a site earmarked for garbage dumping, and encroachment there cannot be permitted.”
The deputy chief minister also said that protests at the site were driven by political interests. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting public land and combating the development of slums. “We know Bengaluru well and do not want land mafia to create slums. We are protecting government land,” he underscored. Eligible families, he added, are being provided housing through the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme.
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