DK Shivakumar slams Pinarayi Vijayan over Bengaluru demolitions’ remarks

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister rejects ‘Bulldozer Raj’ charge, says eviction was on government land used as a solid waste pit and accuses Kerala CM of political interference.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday strongly objected to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s remarks on the eviction drive carried out on encroached land in Bengaluru, accusing him of commenting without understanding the facts.

Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said it was disappointing that a senior leader like Vijayan chose to speak on the issue without proper information. He clarified that the land cleared of encroachments was being used as a solid waste dumping pit and had become a serious health concern for the surrounding area.

Also Read:SWR to speed up 123 trains from 2026, cut travel time to Gujarat, Rajasthan and Mumbai

The Deputy Chief Minister stressed that the Karnataka government had acted with sensitivity while protecting public land. He stated that affected families were given opportunities to relocate and were not treated in an inhuman manner. According to him, the government remains open to providing housing under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme to those who meet eligibility criteria.

Shivakumar also warned against what he described as organised attempts by land mafias to create slums with the intention of later claiming ownership of valuable government land. He said the state government would not allow such practices, especially in the heart of Bengaluru.

Responding to Pinarayi Vijayan’s allegation of “Bulldozer Raj” in Karnataka, Shivakumar firmly denied the charge and said the state does not follow such a culture. He added that the government’s actions were aimed purely at safeguarding public property and public health.

Also Read:‘Bulldozer Raj’ allegation: Pinarayi Vijayan slams Bengaluru’s Kogilu Layout demolitions

The Deputy Chief Minister further stated that he would convey Karnataka’s stand to Congress leaders in Kerala, making it clear that internal state matters should not be politicised across state borders. He appealed to Vijayan not to make such statements without understanding the ground reality.

On protests and criticism following the eviction drive, Shivakumar said these were politically motivated and intended to create unnecessary controversy. He alleged that the remarks from Kerala were part of a political strategy linked to the upcoming elections in that state.