‘We took a precautionary measure’: DK Shivakumar on Kerala CM's remark on demolition drive in K’taka

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday hit back at Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over his criticism of the recent demolition drive in Bengaluru, saying senior leaders should not comment on issues without understanding the facts on the ground.

According to media reports, a demolition drive carried out last week in Kogilu village, Yelahanka, demolished more than 200 houses in Waseem Layout and Fakir Colony.

The operation was reportedly conducted by Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited to clear what were described as encroachments on land earmarked for a proposed waste processing unit.

Speaking to ANI, Shivakumar called Vijayan’s remarks “unfortunate” and emphasised that the action was aimed at protecting public land, not targeting any community.

“All of them were trying to come and put their sheds in the solid waste management site we were using. It was not healthy, it was very dangerous, so we took a precautionary measure,” Shivakumar said, defending the demolition drive in Fakir Colony and Waseem Layout.

The Deputy CM alleged that the encroached area was a waste dumpsite and claimed land mafia interests were behind attempts to turn it into a slum.

“We have humanity. We gave people an opportunity to move to new places. Only a few of them are locals,” he said, adding, “We are not into bulldozers. We are trying to safeguard our land and public property.”

Earlier, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar took a sharp jibe at Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over his criticism of the recent demolition drive in Bengaluru, asserting that "senior leaders should not interfere without knowing the facts on the ground."

The Deputy CM’s remarks came after Vijayan, in a Facebook post, strongly criticised the demolitions, calling them “extremely shocking and painful” and alleging that Muslims had been living in the areas for years. He accused the Karnataka government of following a “North Indian bulldozer justice model” and questioned how the Congress-led administration could justify forced evictions instead of ensuring shelter for the poor. Vijayan described the demolitions as reflective of “anti-minority aggressive politics.”