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The demolition drive sparked criticism within the party and backlash from the outside.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor | File Image
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has backed the Karnataka government’s move to conduct a demolition drive in Bengaluru, emphasising that all the legal procedures were followed and that alternative arrangements had been promised to the affected residents.
The demolition drive sparked criticism within the party and backlash from the outside. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also lashed out at the Karnataka government, terming the move “Bulldozer Raj”.
Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, said, “First, the land belonged to the government, and people were living there illegally. Second, it was a garbage dump and toxic waste had contaminated the water, so it was not a fit place for people to live”, as quoted by news agency PTI.
Tharoor also highlighted that the residents had been informed prior to the demolition, adding that he did not see justice in politically projecting the issue only on the basis that the affected people were poor.
“There may be flaws in the shifting process, and there can be differences of opinion on how it was done. But a promise has been given to find a solution”, Tharoor said.
The Congress MP underlined that the Karnataka government carried out the move, adhering to court orders. “Notices were given, and in some cases, they were issued multiple times before the demolition”, he said, adding there is no need to unnecessarily provoke the issue.
How did the controversy start?
The controversy stemmed from the eviction of residents from Kogila Layout near Yelahanka on December 20. Defending the move, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the action was unavoidable and based on safety concerns.
“Several people had illegally erected the makeshift shelters at the waste-disposal site in the Kogila Layout near Yelahanka. It is not a place suitable for human habitation”, he had said in a post on ‘X’.
January 03, 2026, 09:00 IST
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