Kogilu Layout eviction: Congress leaders react strongly to Pinarayi’s remarks

Leaders of the ruling Congress in Karnataka, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, reacted strongly on Saturday (December 27, 2025) to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s criticism of “bulldozer action” to evict people in Kogilu Layout in Bengaluru. They argued that encroachments have to be acted upon. They accused Mr. Vijayan of not knowing facts of the case.

Mr. Siddaramaiah, speaking in New Delhi, said that the places where the houses were built were waste dumping grounds and not suitable for housing. Authorities had demolished houses after serving notices on residents who had illegally built them, but the officials had been directed to provide housing to them on humanitarian grounds, the Chief Minister said.

Mr. Shivakumar, in Bengaluru, asked Mr. Vijayan to refrain from “interfering in Karnataka’s affairs.” Similar sentiments were echoed by his Cabinet colleagues including Santosh Lad, Priyank Kharge, Ramalinga Reddy and others.

Mr. Shivakumar said, “It is unfortunate that a senior leader like Mr. Vijayan has commented on this without knowing the facts. The land was a solid waste pit, and there are many health related problems there. We also have humanity, and we gave the occupants an opportunity to move to other places.”