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Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar hit back at Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over his criticism of a demolition drive in Bengaluru
Shivakumar said the Kerala CM should not interfere in Karnataka’s affairs without knowing the facts. File image/ANI
A war of words erupted between Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over the demolition of settlements in Bengaluru, with the dispute quickly taking on political overtones ahead of elections in Kerala.
In a post on social media site X, Pinarayi Vijayan accused the Congress-led Karnataka government of adopting a “bulldozer raj” by demolishing houses in Faqir Colony and Waseem Layout in Bengaluru. He claimed the action had uprooted Muslim families who had lived there for years, alleging that the “brutal normalisation of ‘bulldozer raj’” was now being carried out under a Congress government. He further stated that the Sangh Parivar’s anti-minority politics was now being executed by a Congress government in Karnataka. Vijayan added that when a regime ruled through fear and brute force, constitutional values and human dignity were the first casualties. He called on secular and democratic forces to resist this trend.
Responding sharply, Shivakumar said the Kerala CM should not interfere in Karnataka’s affairs without knowing the facts. He stated, “It is unfortunate that senior leaders like Pinarayi Vijayan have commented on this without knowing the facts of the matter. The land, which was cleared of encroachment, was a solid waste pit. There are many health-related issues in the area due to this.”
Shivakumar rejected the allegation of a bulldozer culture, stating the government was acting to protect public land. “We also have humanity, and we have given them an opportunity to move to other areas. Leaders like Pinarayi Vijayan should not interfere in such matters. The land mafia sets up slums to encroach upon the land at a later stage; we won’t let that happen. We are willing to give houses under the Rajiv Gandhi scheme if there are eligible people,” he said.
Insisting that the issue had nothing to do with minorities, Shivakumar said, “We don’t have bulldozer culture; I appeal to Pinarayi Vijayan not to talk like that. We are only protecting government land in the middle of the city. We will send out a message regarding this to our party leaders in Kerala.” He added that Bengaluru did not have many slums compared to other cities and said the matter fell under the constituency of minister Krishna Byre Gowda, who had spoken to officials.
The Deputy Chief Minister stated that those genuinely affected would be supported and could be relocated. “This has nothing to do with minorities. If there is anyone who is genuinely affected, we will provide them with housing elsewhere. Our government, under the leadership of Chief Minister and Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, has built lakhs of homes for the poor in the state,” he said.
When asked about protests triggered by Pinarayi Vijayan’s remarks, Shivakumar dismissed them as politically driven. “These are all politically motivated statements and protests. He should not comment on matters of our state without knowing the facts. This is a political gimmick in view of the upcoming Kerala elections,” he said.
On whether the evicted residents had any legal rights, Shivakumar said support would be extended to those with valid documents. “Whoever lives in Karnataka with valid documents will be provided the necessary support. We have instructed officials to give out clear instructions regarding this,” he said.
December 28, 2025, 01:38 IST
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