Congress Urges Siddaramaiah to Act with Compassion in Bengaluru Demolitions Row

The demolition drive near Kogilu village on the outskirts of Bengaluru has triggered internal unease within the Congress, prompting senior party intervention. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal advised Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar to handle the evictions with greater compassion and sensitivity, stressing the need to prioritise the human impact.

Venugopal conveyed the party high command’s discomfort over how the eviction was carried out. Following his intervention, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar assured that they would personally engage with affected families, create a grievance redress mechanism, and ensure rehabilitation, temporary shelter, food and basic relief.

The issue escalated amid protests by local residents and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), which accused the government of displacing vulnerable families without adequate alternatives. Critics rejected claims that the area was unfit for habitation or occupied by illegal immigrants, arguing that humanitarian considerations were ignored. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s criticism further gave the controversy national visibility.

Defending the action, Siddaramaiah said the land was a waste dumping site that had been encroached upon, adding that multiple eviction notices had been issued earlier. He maintained that the government would still act on humanitarian grounds, especially since many affected residents were migrant workers.

The BJP attacked the Congress leadership, with R Ashoka accusing Venugopal of interfering in Karnataka’s administration and undermining federalism. Meanwhile, DK Shivakumar hit back at Vijayan, dismissing allegations of “bulldozer justice” and claiming the demolition was aimed at protecting public land from land mafia interests, not targeting any community.

Overall, the episode has turned into a political flashpoint, exposing tensions within the Congress while drawing sharp reactions from the opposition and leaders across states.