Kogilu Layout demolitions: Karnataka Deputy CM counters Kerala CM’s ‘bulldozer raj’ charge, calls remarks ‘election gimmick’

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday (December 27, 2025) hit back at Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for criticising the demolition drive in Kogilu Layout, terming the remarks as “unnecessary interference” made without understanding the facts. He described the comment as a “gimmick in view of upcoming Kerala elections”.

Responding to Mr. Vijayan’s statement that the demolition of houses in Faqir Colony and parts of Waseem Layout reflected the normalisation of “bulldozer raj”, Mr. Shivakumar said the land cleared by government agencies was an encroached solid waste dumping site and posed health hazards to residents in the area.

Mr. Vijayan’s statement followed the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) along with the police demolishing over 150 houses in Kogilu Layout, Yelahanka, on December 20, leaving nearly 500 people homeless. Since then, the affected families have been living near the demolished site without any accommodation. 

“It is unfortunate that senior leaders like Pinarayi Vijayan have commented on this without knowing the facts. The land was a solid waste pit, and there are many health related problems there. We also have humanity, and we gave the occupants an opportunity to move to other places,” Mr. Shivakumar said while speaking to reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence.

Opposing the allegation of “bulldozer culture”, Mr. Shivkumar said the Karnataka government was only protecting government land in the heart of the city. “We don’t have a bulldozer culture. I appeal to him not to talk like that. The land mafia often creates slums to later encroach upon land, and we will not allow that,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister asserted that the issue has nothing to do with minorities. He reiterated that the genuine beneficiaries would be provided housing elsewhere. “If there are eligible people, we are ready to provide houses under the Rajiv Gandhi housing scheme. Our government has built lakhs of houses for the poor,” he added.

“Whoever lives in Karnataka with valid documents will be provided necessary support. We have instructed officials to give out clear instructions regarding this,” Mr. Shivakumar said.