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New Delhi: A political controversy has broken out after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar made remarks about Keralites while replying to questions on the Kogilu demolition drive in Bengaluru.
It all started when a reporter asked Shivakumar about Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's criticism over the demolitions. Vijayan had said that the move reeked of “anti-minority aggressive politics” and likened it to a “bulldozer raj”. He also claimed that Muslim residents were being particularly targeted.
In a sharp reaction to a question, Shivakumar said, “We don’t want any Keralites. Our Chief Minister is there, let him do his job." The remark sparked immediate backlash, and the BJP called it an “anti-Kerala” remark.
Earlier, Shivakumar hit out at Vijayan for interfering in local matters, and alleged that the Kerala CM was "doing politics" because "assembly election is coming" in his state. Shivakumar assured that the government will provide alternative accommodation to eligible displaced persons on "humanitarian grounds" after proper verification.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla asked if the Congress leadership in Kerala accepted Shivakumar’s remark. Taking to X, he said the comment, made while slamming Vijayan, amounted to an affront to Kerala. He also asked whether senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is an MP from Kerala, agreed with the comment made by Shivakumar.
Poonawalla said, “The battle between the Left and Congress has now escalated to such levels that DK Shivakumar is openly making anti-Kerala, anti-Malayali statements. He has said that we don’t need Keralites. Does the Kerala Congress agree with this statement? What about people from the Congress party who are not from Kerala, but contest in Kerala? Does Priyanka Vadra agree with this statement? This is the ‘tukde-tukde’ mindset of Congress… The main issue is that the Congress itself is using the bulldozer in Karnataka… But when the bulldozer is used in UP, they cry about it, because in UP it is used against the mafia…"
Poonawala added, “INC no longer means Indian National Congress but Islamabad National Congress. That is why they can’t even get the national anthem right on its foundation day. This is a party that says we have to fight against the Indian state, which doubts the Army, attacks Constitutional institutions, and opposes Vande Mataram… When you have more faith in Italy and Rome, and not in India, then you are bound to make such mistakes."
Taking a swipe at Shivakumar, former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar claimed that the Congress party talks about unity and upholding the Constitution but in practice operates along lines of geography, caste, religion, and language. He questioned whether, by the same logic, people should say they do not want “Italians and half Italians” interfering in Kerala or India.
Shivakumar claimed that the Kogilu demolition drive was aimed at cracking down on recent encroachments on government “gomala" land meant for solid waste management. He added that the area was unsafe for habitation and notices had been issued ahead of the demolition drive.
He emphatically contended that relocation had been offered to genuine residents and that only a small portion of those affected were locals. Shivakumar alleged that land sharks had illegally sold or allotted plots, collecting Rs 1 to 2 lakh from people. He vowed that stringent action would be taken against them.
