Nearly 3,000 Homeless After Yelahanka Demolitions, DK Shivakumar Defends Action as Legal

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday defended the overnight demolition drive carried out in Kogilu village in Yelahanka, asserting that the action was legal, necessary, and undertaken in the interest of public safety. His remarks came amid sharp criticism from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who described the demolitions as 'deeply shocking and painful.'

In a statement issued on Saturday, Vijayan said the affected localities had been home to members of the Muslim community for several years and accused the Karnataka government of pushing an entire community onto the streets under harsh conditions. Warning that minority -hostile politics associated with the Sangh Parivar were being replicated in South India, he expressed alarm that such practices were unfolding under a Congress-led government.

Responding on X (formerly Twitter), Shivakumar said the clearance drive was carried out strictly in accordance with the law to protect government land and prevent potential loss of life. He stated that around 15 acres in Survey No. 99 was government Gomala land allotted to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). According to him, the land had previously been used as a quarry and solid waste dumping site, making it unsafe for human habitation.

Shivakumar said unauthorised asbestos -sheet houses that had come up on the land were removed on December 20, 2025, and added that rehabilitation arrangements were underway. He claimed eligible displaced families would be considered for housing under government schemes. Emphasising that the Karnataka government functions within the framework of the Constitution and is guided by principles of equality, fairness, and humanity, Shivakumar urged Vijayan to “consider the facts on the ground” before forming an opinion.

However, his explanation has drawn intense criticism in the wake of the eviction drive, which left nearly 3,000 people homeless overnight. In the early hours of Saturday, beginning around 4 am, authorities demolished close to 500 houses in Fakir Colony and Wasim Layout of Kogilu village, deploying police personnel and JCB machines.

Residents, most of them from the Muslim community, said the demolitions were carried out without prior notice, triggering panic and protests. Families reported being given little or no time to salvage their belongings, leaving many stranded on the streets.

The scale, timing, and manner of the demolitions have sparked widespread outrage. Civil rights groups and opposition leaders have described the action as inhuman and unconstitutional. The sudden displacement of entire neighbourhoods has been compared to the "bulldozer justice' model popularised by BJP governments in North India, raising uncomfortable questions about the Congress government’s commitment to due process and the right to shelter.

Despite condemnation from political leaders and sections of civil society who invoke constitutional and humanitarian values, the Karnataka government has shown little sign of introspection or remorse. Critics argue that Shivakumar’s defence reduces a humanitarian crisis to a technical land dispute, while failing to address serious allegations regarding the lack of notice, absence of consultation, and the immediate suffering of displaced families.