Bengaluru: The Karnataka BJP has intensified its attack on the Congress-led state government over the demolition of houses and huts in Fakir Colony and Wasim Layout near Kogilu Layout in Yelahanka, with party leaders demanding the immediate arrest of a person named Wasim for allegedly cheating hundreds of people by illegally constructing and allotting huts for money.
Addressing reporters after a visit by a BJP fact-finding team to the affected areas on Friday , Yelahanka MLA S.R. Vishwanath said the party had gathered substantial evidence pointing to large-scale irregularities in the construction of huts and houses. He claimed that the BJP was in possession of an audio recording in which a person is allegedly heard demanding Rs 4 lakh and Rs 3.5 lakh from people to construct huts in the Kogilu Layout area.
“A fact-finding team from the BJP visited Fakir Colony and Wasim Layout today to understand the ground reality behind the demolitions. We have collected all relevant information, including survey numbers, land records, Google maps and legal details. Our report will be submitted to the BJP state president within the next two days,” Vishwanath said.
He alleged that nearly 95 per cent of the houses and huts in the area had been built in the last two years and questioned how such large-scale construction was allowed without the knowledge of the authorities. “There is a clear political agenda behind this. Flood victims and people who lost houses after encroaching on rajakaluves have not been rehabilitated. But here, houses are being promised for vote-bank politics,” he alleged.
The BJP leader said the party was considering submitting the report to the Governor and also exploring legal options. He announced a large-scale protest at Kogilu on December 5, in which beneficiaries who had applied for houses under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation would participate. “If needed, we will approach the court,” he said.
Vishwanath and other BJP leaders squarely demanded the arrest of Wasim, who they allege illegally constructed huts and allotted them for money. “Whether it is Wasim or Vishwanath, anyone who has illegally given houses under a contract system should be arrested. Today, the Congress party is protecting such people,” BJP leaders charged.
According to the BJP, the person who developed what is now referred to as “Wasim Layout” named the locality after himself and is allegedly close to a local Congress leader and a minister. “We have an audio recording in which he is heard asking people to pay Rs 4 lakh or Rs 3.5 lakh to build huts. He has even given some houses on rent,” Vishwanath claimed.
He further alleged that despite cheating hundreds of people, no case had been registered against Wasim so far. “Aadhaar cards and voter ID cards have been created for people here in a suspicious manner. We will submit all these documents to the authorities for verification,” he said.
BJP leader Venugopal alleged that such actions were being carried out purely for political gain. “They are doing this to please certain political interests. This is nothing but a misuse of the system,” he said.
Vishwanath also raised concerns about housing allotments under various government schemes. He claimed that nearly 20,000 houses had been constructed in his constituency, but people who had applied for houses six years ago by paying Rs 1 lakh were still waiting. He questioned the government’s claim of providing alternative housing in Baiyappanahalli under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Development Corporation.
Explaining the eligibility criteria, he said beneficiaries must have lived in Bengaluru for at least five years, possess a valid residence certificate and apply online. “There is also a provision of 10 per cent houses for minorities. However, 58 houses under the minority quota in Baiyappanahalli are lying vacant,” he said.
He pointed out that Baiyappanahalli houses are S+12 apartment buildings with lifts, requiring monthly maintenance of Rs 500 to Rs 600. “How can people who say they don’t even have money for a Xerox afford such maintenance?” he asked, criticising the government’s proposal to give Rs 5 lakh from BBMP and Rs 2.5 lakh from the Minorities Department as inadequate and impractical.
