Karnataka Demolitions Trigger ‘Bulldozer Raj’ Row After 400 Left Homeless in Bengaluru

The Karnataka government has come under sharp political and public scrutiny after a large-scale demolition drive in Bengaluru left nearly 400 people homeless, most of them from the Muslim community. The evictions have triggered a heated political confrontation, with critics accusing the Congress-led government of normalising what has been described as “bulldozer raj”.

The demolition operation was carried out in the early hours of December 22 at Fakir Colony and Wasim Layout in Kogilu village, during one of the coldest spells recorded in the city this winter. Over 200 houses were razed at around 4 am by Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited, with the operation involving four JCB machines and the deployment of more than 150 police personnel.

According to the state government, the structures were illegal encroachments on government land located near a lake adjoining the Urdu Government School. However, residents alleged that no prior notice was served before the demolitions and claimed they were forcibly evicted by police personnel. Many families have since been forced to spend nights on the streets or under makeshift shelters amid harsh weather conditions.

Several residents told local media that they had lived in the area for over two decades and possessed valid Aadhaar cards and voter identity documents. Most of those affected are migrant workers employed as daily-wage labourers. Protests erupted across the city following the demolitions, with some residents staging demonstrations near the residence of Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda. Civil society groups, including Dalit Sangharsha Samithi, also joined the agitation.

The issue escalated into an inter-state political flashpoint after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the Congress government in Karnataka, accusing it of pursuing “anti-minority politics”. In a post on X, Vijayan said that ruling through fear and force undermined constitutional values and human dignity.

Kerala Education Minister V Shivankutty went further, comparing the demolitions to the Emergency era and accusing the Congress of hypocrisy on secularism and human rights. The CPI(M) also sent a delegation to the affected areas and announced the formation of an anti-demolition committee, alleging that families were not even allowed to retrieve essential documents or belongings before their homes were demolished.

Responding to the criticism, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar defended the government’s action, stating that the land in question was an encroached waste dumpsite and alleging the involvement of land mafias attempting to convert it into a slum. He maintained that residents were given opportunities for relocation and rejected comparisons with bulldozer-driven governance seen elsewhere.

Shivakumar also took a swipe at the Kerala leadership, urging leaders to comment only after understanding Bengaluru’s ground realities. The controversy continues to intensify as protests persist and political exchanges sharpen across party lines.