DKS vs Vijayan: Bengaluru demolitions spark political clash
DKS vs Vijayan: Bengaluru demolitions spark political clash
DK Shivakumar counters Vijayan's bulldozer remarks, saying Bengaluru's demolition drive protects public land from encroachers and land mafias, not communities.
Bengaluru has been rocked by a political row over recent demolition drives as Karnataka's deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar and Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan traded comments. Shivakumar said senior leaders must understand ground realities before commenting, stressing that the demolitions are aimed at reclaiming public land from encroachers and the land mafia, not at any particular community.
In Bengaluru's Kogilu Layout on December 20, authorities demolished more than 150 houses, leaving roughly 500 people homeless, according to officials. Earlier reports noted over 200 houses were razed in Waseem Layout and Fakir Colony in the same area. The actions were carried out by Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited with police support, as part of a broader crackdown on encroachment.
Vijayan condemned the moves as 'bulldozer justice,' prompting Shivakumar to counter that the Kerala chief minister's remarks amount to an election gimmick. Shivakumar urged Vijayan to speak only after grasping the facts on the ground, insisting the goal is lawful land restoration rather than punitive targeting of any community.
The exchanges highlight the tension surrounding urban governance in Bengaluru, where officials say decisive action is needed to curb encroachment while critics warn about the human impact on families faced with sudden displacement. The controversy illustrates how security of public land has become a political flashpoint ahead of elections.
