Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has strongly refuted allegations of 'bulldozer raj' made by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, following the eviction of approximately 300 families from two layouts in Bengaluru last week. Shivakumar asserted that the drive was solely to reclaim government land earmarked for public use and advised his Kerala counterpart against commenting without knowing the facts.
The Eviction Drive and Kerala CM's Allegations
The controversy erupted after authorities cleared encroachments at Faqir Colony and Waseem Layout in Bengaluru. On December 26, 2025, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan took to social media platform X to condemn the action. He stated that the bulldozing, which uprooted Muslim families who had lived there for years, exposed the brutal normalisation of 'bulldozer raj'.
Vijayan's post further alleged, "Sadly, the Sangh Parivar's anti-minority politics is now being executed under a Congress Government in Karnataka." He argued that when a regime rules through fear and brute force, constitutional values and human dignity become the first casualties, calling on secular forces to resist this trend.
Karnataka's Firm Rebuttal and Justification
Responding to the charges a day later, on Saturday, December 27, Deputy CM Shivakumar addressed reporters. He clarified that the eviction was conducted to remove illegal encroachments on a government land notified for solid waste management.
"It is a quarry pit, a dangerous place with a lot of health hazards. They tried to occupy it illegally," Shivakumar, a senior Congress leader, explained. He emphatically denied employing 'bulldozer justice', saying, "We are not into bulldozer (justice). We have not done anything using bulldozers. We tried to vacate (the encroachers) and protect the public place."
Shivakumar dismissed Vijayan's criticism as "political gimmicks ahead of state elections in Kerala." He also outlined the government's rehabilitation stance, stating that houses would be sanctioned for displaced individuals with valid documents. "Talks are on to rehabilitate those who are genuinely affected, but not to those who just want to occupy government land," he added.
Broader Political Reactions and Context
The issue first gained prominence after a post by BJP leader Bhaskar Rao on Tuesday, December 23. Rao described the demolition as a "gut-wrenching and heartless demolition of 300 houses of poorest of poor Muslim brethren." He claimed bulldozers and police flattened the houses in two hours without notice, despite families residing on the abandoned quarry for about 25 years, and urged the government to show humanity.
This incident has sparked a wider political debate, intersecting themes of urban encroachment, rehabilitation policies, and minority politics. The exchange between the Congress-led Karnataka government and the CPI(M)-led Kerala government highlights the charged political narratives surrounding administrative actions, especially when they involve vulnerable communities.
The Karnataka government's position remains focused on the legality of the land and public interest, while opposition voices frame it as an act of displacement lacking due process and compassion.
