NEW DELHI: Congress party on Saturday expressed “serious concern” over the Bengaluru demolition drive carried out by the Karnataka government that led to the eviction of several settlers from Kogilu village. Party general secretary KC Venugopal spoke to the Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar and conveyed that such actions should have been undertaken with “far greater caution” keeping the “human impact at the centre”.“Spoke to Karnataka CM @siddaramaiah and DCM @DKShivakumar regarding the demolition of unauthorised constructions in Kogilu village, Bengaluru. Conveyed the AICC’s serious concern that such actions should have been undertaken with far greater caution, sensitivity, and compassion, keeping the human impact at the centre,” Venugopal informed in a post on X.“They have assured that they will personally engage with the affected families, put in place an appropriate mechanism for addressing grievances, and ensure rehabilitation and relief for those impacted,” he further said.Sidda and DK Shivakumar had defended the move saying that the “place was not suitable for human habitation”, adding that “temporary shelter, food, and other essential facilities would be arranged for all those affected.”“Several people had illegally erected makeshift shelters at the waste-disposal site in the Kogilu Layout near Yelahanka in Bengaluru. It is not a place suitable for human habitation. Despite issuing notices on multiple occasions directing the families to relocate, the residents failed to comply. Under these circumstances, it became unavoidable to clear the encroachment and vacate the site,” the Karnataka CM had said.Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan had also criticised the demolition drive calling it an example of “anti-minority aggressive politics.”Sidda hit back at the Kerala CM saying that his remarks were “politically motivated” and reflected a “lack of understanding of the factual situation.”“There is a fundamental difference between ‘bulldozer justice’ and the lawful removal of illegal encroachments. The criticism being made by Pinarayi Vijayan is politically motivated and reflects a lack of understanding of the factual situation,” he had said.
