A demolition drive in Kogilu village on Bengaluru's outskirts has ignited a fierce political storm, with the BJP accusing the Congress high command of undermining Karnataka's elected government through directives from Delhi. The controversy intensified after AICC general secretary K C Venugopal intervened, expressing concerns over the eviction's execution and urging greater sensitivity toward affected families.
Venugopal contacted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, conveying the party's unease and emphasizing humanitarian considerations. Both leaders assured him of personal involvement in addressing grievances, establishing rehabilitation measures, and providing relief to displaced residents, many of whom are migrant workers.
The BJP seized on the intervention to highlight what it termed the Congress's persistent "high-command culture." Senior leader R Ashoka labeled Venugopal's actions as interference insulting federalism, questioning his authority over state administration. State BJP president B Y Vijayendra described the episode as evidence of "remote-control rule," alleging that internal power struggles within the Congress have shifted governance decisions to Delhi.
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Vijayendra challenged Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to demonstrate consistency by confronting their party leadership, rather than defending the demolitions publicly while yielding to central directives. He argued that such dynamics reduce elected leaders to puppets, eroding accountability and disrespecting Karnataka's mandate for local governance.
On the ground, protests escalated with participation from the Social Democratic Party of India and locals, who criticized the evictions as insensitive. Defending the action, Siddaramaiah stated the site was an unfit waste dumping area with prior notices issued, while Shivakumar rejected external criticism, insisting the drive targeted encroachments and protected public land without communal bias.
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