A major political controversy has erupted in Karnataka after senior Congress leader K C Venugopal expressed concern over a recent demolition drive in Bengaluru, drawing sharp criticism from the state's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) opposition. The BJP has accused Venugopal of acting like a "super chief minister" and undermining the state's autonomy.
BJP Leader's Strong Accusations
On Sunday, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, launched a fierce attack on Congress general secretary K C Venugopal. Ashoka questioned Venugopal's authority to intervene in Karnataka's administrative matters, asking if he had assumed the role of a "Super CM." He asserted that such actions from the Congress high command amounted to a blatant overreach and an insult to the principles of federalism.
"Karnataka is governed by a constitutionally elected chief minister and cabinet, not by an AICC general secretary," Ashoka stated. He emphasized that the people of Karnataka voted for self-governance, not for a "remote-control government" operated from Delhi. The BJP leader further accused the Congress of reducing Karnataka to a "colony of Rahul Gandhi and his coterie."
The Trigger: Demolition Drive in Kogilu
The political firestorm was ignited by a demolition drive carried out last week by the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) in Kogilu village near Yelahanka. Reports indicate that over 200 houses in Waseem Layout and Fakir Colony were demolished. Authorities stated that approximately five acres of land designated for a solid waste processing unit had been illegally encroached upon, with more than 150 temporary structures built on the site.
Following the eviction of several settlers, Venugopal took to social media platform X on Saturday to voice "serious concern." He revealed that he had spoken to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, conveying the All India Congress Committee's (AICC) view that the action should have been executed with "far greater caution, sensitivity, and compassion." Venugopal later stated that the state leaders had assured him of engaging with affected families and ensuring rehabilitation.
Hypocrisy and Political Motives Alleged
R Ashoka countered by accusing Venugopal of selective outrage and hypocrisy. He questioned whether the Congress leader had shown similar concern when medical and other waste from Kerala were allegedly dumped along Karnataka's borders, threatening the Bandipur forest region, public health, and wildlife.
"Silence there. Sermons here," Ashoka remarked, suggesting that the Congress's outrage was less about humanity and more about "high-command politics, Kerala appeasement, and election optics." He linked this to the fact that senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi represents Kerala in the Lok Sabha.
Kerala CM Enters the Fray
The dispute took an inter-state turn when Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticized the demolitions, describing them as "extremely shocking and painful." In a Facebook post, Vijayan accused the Karnataka government of following a "North Indian bulldozer justice model" and labeled the actions as "anti-minority aggressive politics."
Karnataka Government's Firm Defense
Both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM Shivakumar firmly rejected the external criticism. Siddaramaiah dismissed Vijayan's remarks as "politically motivated" and based on a "lack of understanding of the factual situation." He clarified that the cleared site was a solid waste disposal pit unsuitable for human habitation and that repeated notices had been issued to the encroachers before the action.
Deputy CM Shivakumar asked the Kerala CM not to interfere in Karnataka's affairs, highlighting the health hazards posed by the encroachment on the waste pit and stating that opportunities for relocation had been provided.
Escalating into a Federalism Flashpoint
The episode has rapidly escalated into a significant political flashpoint, touching on sensitive issues of state autonomy, federal structure, and inter-party dynamics. The BJP's strong reaction frames the incident as a case of the central Congress leadership disrespecting a democratically elected state government. Meanwhile, the Congress faces the challenge of managing internal communication between its national leadership and its state unit while addressing humanitarian concerns. The situation remains tense, with further political repercussions likely as all parties involved dig in their heels.
