Bengaluru Demolitions Spark Inter-State Political Clash
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A recent demolition drive in Bengaluru, targeting what authorities claim are illegal structures, has ignited a political row extending beyond Karnataka’s borders. Hundreds of homes have been demolished, leaving residents protesting and seeking justice. The drive has also caused internal unease within the Karnataka Congress party, with some members expressing serious concerns.
The controversy escalated when Kerala’s Chief Minister publicly criticized the demolitions, prompting a sharp response from Karnataka Congress leaders. They have accused the Kerala CM of unwarranted interference in Karnataka’s internal affairs, characterizing his remarks as a political maneuver ahead of upcoming elections. Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister dismissed the criticism as an “election gimmick.”
The demolitions have brought Karnataka’s Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar, onto the same page despite recent internal tensions within the state Congress party. The Karnataka government defends the actions as necessary to reclaim public land and address illegal construction, while opposition voices and affected residents decry the demolitions as a harsh and unjust displacement of communities.
