Bengaluru: The political storm over the demolition of illegal constructions at Kogilu Layout has intensified further, with the BJP now highlighting Pakistan’s objection to the drive and accusing the Congress-led Karnataka government of “divisive appeasement politics” and weak governance.
The controversy began after the state authorities cleared illegally constructed buildings at Kogilu Layout near Yelahanka using JCB machines as part of an anti-encroachment operation. While the demolition itself was defended as lawful, the Karnataka government’s decision to immediately rehabilitate the displaced residents has triggered sharp criticism from the opposition.
Adding a new dimension to the row, BJP leaders have taken strong exception to statements and reactions emerging from Pakistan on the Kogilu demolition. They alleged that Pakistan questioning a lawful administrative action within India reflects how the issue has been politically and communally framed, both domestically and internationally.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah subsequently announced that eligible residents displaced from Kogilu Layout would be provided compensation of Rs 11.2 lakh each to build new houses within a 7-km radius. The government has reportedly earmarked nearly Rs 100 crore for the rehabilitation project, with individual houses estimated at around Rs 11 lakh each.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi criticised the state government’s swift response, stating that while drought-, flood- and disaster-affected people across Karnataka wait for years for compensation, relief in Kogilu was announced within days. In a post on X, Joshi alleged that the Congress government acted in haste to appease a particular community, ignoring broader public suffering.
The selective urgency in vouching a formal settlement by the congress government in Karnataka to appease a community is disheartening. People of the State wait for years to receive compensations on various disasters like drought and flood, but here the relief is provided in mere…
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) December 30, 2025
Joshi also questioned why external reactions, including objections from Pakistan, were being allowed to influence or politicise a purely internal administrative matter. “When Karnataka lawfully removes illegal encroachments, why should Pakistan even comment? And why does the state government appear rattled by such reactions?” he asked.
Senior BJP leader C.T. Ravi went a step further, alleging that Pakistan’s objection to the Kogilu demolition exposes the dangerous optics created by the Congress government. “The Karnataka government lawfully removed illegal encroachments, and suddenly Pakistan dares to question it. How deep is this Congress–Pakistan nexus?” Ravi asked, triggering sharp political reactions.
Karnataka government lawfully removed illegal encroachments in Kogilu Layout, and suddenly Pakistan dares to question it. How deep is this Congress–Pakistan nexus?
Who were these people illegally settled on government land in Kogilu? On what basis did the @INCKarnataka govt… pic.twitter.com/YXT4UN709W
— Dr. Ravi C. T 🇮🇳 ಡಾ. ರವಿ ಸಿ. ಟಿ (@CTRavi_BJP) December 30, 2025
Ravi said the demolition was a routine administrative action, but the subsequent rehabilitation decision, coupled with reactions from Pakistan and leaders outside Karnataka, raised serious doubts. “If Pakistan feels emboldened to object, it is because the Congress government itself has projected this as a communal or political issue,” he alleged.
The BJP has demanded clarity on who the displaced residents are and on the basis on which they were promised houses. “Who authorised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar to distribute Kannadigas’ hard-earned tax money as charity?” Ravi asked, insisting that the identities and backgrounds of beneficiaries must be verified.
He further said that if the houses were illegal and the occupants were not native Kannadigas, a thorough investigation was essential before extending rehabilitation. “We strongly oppose handing out houses merely to protect a vote bank,” he said.
