Bengaluru: A demolition drive on the outskirts of Bengaluru has sparked a sharp political confrontation, exposing divisions within the Congress and drawing strong criticism from the BJP, which accused the party’s central leadership of undermining federalism and running the state through “Delhi diktats”.
The controversy erupted after Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal intervened following the eviction of residents from Kogilu village near Yelahanka, an operation that left several families displaced and led to protests by local residents and political groups.
Venugopal urges caution and compassion
Venugopal reportedly spoke to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, conveying the All India Congress Committee’s (AICC) concern over the manner in which the demolition was carried out. He emphasised the need for “greater caution, sensitivity and compassion,” urging that the human impact should be central to governance decisions.
According to party sources, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar assured Venugopal that they would personally engage with affected families, establish a grievance redress mechanism, and ensure rehabilitation and relief for those displaced.
BJP attacks Congress intervention
The intervention, however, drew sharp criticism from the BJP, which viewed it as evidence of the Congress high command’s overreach. Senior leader R. Ashoka described Venugopal’s action as “interfering” in Karnataka’s administration and an affront to federalism.
“Who is K.C. Venugopal to intervene in the administration of Karnataka? Is he a Super CM, or does the Congress high command believe state governments function on Delhi diktats?” Ashoka asked in a social media post. He drew parallels with past instances where the party high command had allegedly undermined state leadership, accusing Venugopal of “high-command politics, Kerala appeasement and election optics.”
BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra echoed these concerns, accusing the Congress government of functioning under a “remote-control rule” dictated by the party’s Delhi leadership. He questioned whether Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar would extend the same public defence they had offered against Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan to their own party leadership.
“When elected leaders function at the pleasure of an unseen authority, governance collapses and is reduced to remote-control rule,” Vijayendra said, calling for accountable leadership rather than “puppet rulers dancing to the tunes of an unelected high command.”
Protests and local opposition
On the ground, protests intensified as local residents and political organisations, including the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), accused the government of displacing vulnerable families without adequate alternatives. SDPI Karnataka general secretary Mujahid Pasha criticised the government for ignoring humanitarian concerns, arguing that the evictions mirrored the same politics the party had previously opposed.
Government defends action
Defending the demolition, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the land in Kogilu Badavane was a waste dumping site unsuitable for human habitation and had been illegally encroached upon. He emphasised that multiple notices had been issued asking residents to relocate, but the eviction became unavoidable due to non-compliance.
Siddaramaiah added that the BBMP commissioner had been directed to ensure temporary shelter, food, and other essentials for the displaced, noting that most of the affected residents were migrant workers.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar also hit back at external criticism, particularly from Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, urging leaders from outside the state to understand local realities before commenting. He rejected claims of “bulldozer justice,” asserting that the operation was aimed at protecting public land from encroachment by alleged land mafia interests and was not directed at any specific community.
Conclusion
The Kogilu village demolition has intensified political debates over governance, federalism, and the balance between law enforcement and humanitarian concerns. While the Congress seeks to project internal unity and address the human impact of evictions, the BJP has seized on the intervention to question the influence of the party high command, signalling ongoing tensions both within and outside Karnataka’s political landscape.