BENGALURU: Raising the slogan “Save Kogilu, drive out illegal immigrants”, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday staged a massive protest near the Country Club on Bagalur Main Road, launching a sharp and sustained attack on the Congress-led Karnataka government. The protest became a platform for BJP leaders to accuse the Siddaramaiah government of appeasement politics, administrative failure, and betrayal of the interests of local residents and taxpayers.
Addressing the gathering, BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra said the government’s attempt to deny permission to set up a protest stage exposed the “authoritarian mindset” of the Congress. “This is not their father’s government. We are living in a democracy. BJP workers are not afraid of such empty threats. Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar must understand this clearly,” he said, drawing loud cheers from party workers.
Vijayendra alleged that the Congress government itself was responsible for demolishing houses in Kogilu earlier, but was now attempting to distribute houses to illegal immigrants due to political pressure from the party high command. “The moment AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal issued a warning, Siddaramaiah panicked, fearing the loss of his Chief Minister’s chair, and rushed to provide houses to illegal immigrants,” he charged. He further alleged that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, driven by his ambition to become Chief Minister, used Venugopal to intimidate Siddaramaiah and pressure him into making this decision.
“ಕೋಗಿಲು ಉಳಿಸಿ – ಅಕ್ರಮ ವಲಸಿಗರನ್ನು ತೊಲಗಿಸಿ” ಎಂಬ ಘೋಷವಾಕ್ಯದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಬಾಗಲೂರು ಮುಖ್ಯ ರಸ್ತೆಯ ಕೌಂಟ್ರಿ ಕ್ಲಬ್ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಪಕ್ಷದ ವತಿಯಿಂದ ನಡೆಸಲಾದ ಬೃಹತ್ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಲಾಯಿತು.
ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಸ್ವಾರ್ಥಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಕನ್ನಡದ ನೆಲ, ಜಲದ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜಿ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಹೇಸದ ನಾಡದ್ರೋಹಿ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಪಕ್ಷ, ಇಂದು ನಮ್ಮದೇ… pic.twitter.com/ni7le18K8u
— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) January 5, 2026
Questioning who was actually running the state, Vijayendra asked whether K.C. Venugopal was the Chief Minister of Karnataka or Siddaramaiah. “This is the question being asked by the people of Karnataka,” he said. Accusing the government of insulting Hindus and ignoring the rights of locals, he pointed out that nearly 38 lakh people in the state have applied for housing. “Despite constantly invoking Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s name, this Congress government has not provided a single house in the last two-and-a-half years,” he alleged. “But when it comes to illegal immigrants, they are suddenly in a hurry. This is nothing but an unpardonable crime.”
Reiterating the slogan “Save Kogilu, drive out illegal immigrants”, Vijayendra announced that the BJP would intensify protests across the state. He alleged that Congress leaders and workers had actively encouraged illegal settlements in Kogilu by facilitating access to water and electricity. “They have been collecting bribes of Rs 2 to 3 lakh every month. Congress workers are taking money and conspiring to turn Karnataka into another Bangladesh,” he charged.
He further accused Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar of hypocrisy. “Every time they speak, they invoke Babasaheb Ambedkar. But today, aren’t they committing injustice against Dalits and the poor by diverting houses built with taxpayers’ money to illegal settlers?” he asked. Vijayendra asserted that the BJP’s struggle would continue until justice was delivered. “Truth will win. Our agitation will not stop,” he declared.
Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, also came down heavily on the Congress government. He alleged that people from Kerala had entered Karnataka, collected information and left without any action from the authorities. “Why were they allowed to come here at all? They should have been arrested,” he said. Narayanaswamy questioned the government’s authority to provide houses to Rohingya immigrants from Bangladesh. “Who gave you this right? If you want to allot houses, do it legally. Why this special affection only here?” he asked, pointing out that many genuine applicants who have paid money and waited for years are still without homes.
Former Deputy Chief Minister and MLA Dr C.N. Ashwathnarayan accused the Congress government of lacking self-respect and moral courage. He alleged that the government had promised to allot houses to alleged Bangladeshi immigrants within 24 hours. “This is unethical and completely illegal,” he said, warning that such decisions could have serious law and order implications.
