Bengaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party Monday warned of state-wide protests if Karnataka’s Congress-led government would allot houses to Kogilu’s locals, who recently lost their homes in a demolition drive, alleging that they “are illegal migrants from Bangladesh”.
“For your political ambitions or profit, we won’t allow you to make Bengaluru into Bangla [Bangladesh],” C.T. Ravi, a BJP MLC and ex-national general secretary of the BJP, said at a protest against any rehabilitation efforts in Kogilu, which lies in Bengaluru’s northern part.
On 20 December, the Bengaluru district authorities demolished more than 150 homes in Fakir Colony and Waseem Layout, saying the site was a dumpyard and the homes were “illegal”. Siddaramaiah and his deputy, D.K. Shivakumar, initially defended the decision, but their stance soon shifted.
The shift happened after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused the Congress of employing ‘bulldozer justice’—much like the BJP in Uttar Pradesh—in an allegation that could have an impact on the upcoming Kerala polls. Not only the Kerala CM, but also the Congress leadership had soon condemned the demolitions.
Deployed by Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, ‘bulldozer justice’ has time and again come under attack from the Congress. It refers to extra-judicial methods to demolish homes of those who, the administration suspects, either rioted or participated in illegal activities.
K.C. Venugopal, the national general secretary (organisation) of the Congress, pulled up the Siddaramaiah-led government on X. Informing that he had spoken to Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar on the matter, Venugopal wrote in his post, “They have assured that they will personally engage with the affected families, put in place an appropriate mechanism for addressing grievances, and ensure rehabilitation and relief for those impacted.”
The BJP—after showing support for the demolitions—has started attacking the government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for “buckling under the pressure of the high command, overlooking administrative procedures”. The Siddaramaiah administration is now going out of its way to support ‘illegal immigrants’, according to the state’s opposition.
“To apply for a house in the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation, one has to submit an online application. It takes two years for the application to be finalised. But here, houses are being sanctioned to the residents in just two days. This is a question for all Kannadigas. If Bangladeshis come and stay here, theft, robbery, and drug mafia will increase,” Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka said at Monday’s protest.
In February 2024, the Siddaramaiah government was criticised for its Rs 15 lakh compensation offer to Ajeesh Joseph Panachiyil’s family after a wild elephant trampled the 47-year-old to death in Kerala’s Wayanad. An “elephant from Karnataka” had trampled Ajeesh, the Karnataka government said at the time, defending its decision. But the move had allegedly come after Rahul Gandhi, the then MP from Wayanad, intervened.
After the 1 January Ballari shooting, the BJP is already protesting over the law and order situation in the state. Now, fresh protests are expected over the Kogilu matter.
Clashes had broken out between the supporters of BJP legislator Janardhana Reddy and Congress MLA Bharat Reddy over a banner installation for a Valmiki statue unveiling in Ballari on 1 January. Nearly eight gunshots had been fired, and one man had lost his life.
Janardhana Reddy has since written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to provide him Z+ security, alleging the Congress MLA wants to kill him. Siddaramaiah has formed a committee to probe the violence and suspended the district superintendent of police, who had taken charge barely two hours before the violence.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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