From Kogilu Cross to Kerala Politics: Bengaluru Bulldozer Action Triggers Inter-State Row
Bengaluru / Thiruvananthapuram: A long-pending encroachment clearance operation near Kogilu Cross in Bengaluru, carried out by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), has unexpectedly escalated into a political controversy stretching beyond Karnataka and into neighbouring Kerala, triggering sharp reactions within the Congress ecosystem.
The operation, which saw over 200 illegally built houses demolished on government land, was welcomed by many in Bengaluru as a long-overdue action against land encroachment and alleged land mafia activity. At the same time, the state government acknowledged the humanitarian distress of displaced residents and indicated that steps were being explored to provide alternative arrangements.
However, the issue has now taken a political turn after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan raised objections, alleging that Muslim families were rendered homeless and likening the Karnataka government’s action to what he described as “bulldozer politics.”
The remarks drew strong reactions from Karnataka Congress leaders, who accused the Kerala CM of politicising a legally mandated eviction drive, especially with Kerala Assembly elections approaching next year.
The controversy intensified further when CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP A.A. Rahim visited the Kogilu area, interacted with residents, and publicly criticised the Karnataka government, calling the eviction “unfortunate and unconstitutional.”
In response to the growing political fallout, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal reportedly sought a detailed report on the incident. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar subsequently submitted a formal explanation, clarifying that the land in question was BBMP-owned property earmarked for waste management, and that the eviction was conducted strictly as per legal procedures.
The report also noted that while a large number of encroachers happened to belong to the Muslim community, the action was not community-specific, but rather a routine civic enforcement drive to reclaim public land in the heart of the city.
Reacting to the Kerala CM’s statements, the Deputy Chief Minister urged leaders not to comment without verifying facts, stressing that protecting public land and infrastructure was a constitutional obligation.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also addressed the issue, stating that while the eviction was unavoidable due to safety and legal concerns, officials had been directed to explore alternative rehabilitation measures on humanitarian grounds.
Meanwhile, the remarks from Kerala have sparked debate on whether the issue is being amplified purely through an electoral lens, with analysts suggesting that the Bengaluru encroachment drive has now become a talking point in Kerala’s pre-poll political narrative.
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: ಬುಲ್ಡೋಜರ್ ರಾಜ್ ವಿವಾದ: ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಚರಣೆಗೆ ಕೇರಳದಿಂದ ಆಕ್ಷೇಪ, ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸಂಕಷ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ
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