A day after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that those made homeless by the demolition drive in Kogil Layout would be allotted alternative flats nearby, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) opposed the move and demanded that the allotments be put on hold until the antecedents of those in the Layout are investigated.
Speaking in Belagavi, BJP state president BY Vijayendra said the party will take to the streets over the issue and will decide on the methods of protest at the party’s central committee meeting on January 5.
Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok termed the Chief Minister’s decision as a “bad precedent” where encroachers and the land mafia were being rewarded with apartments meant for the poor. He alleged that those whose houses were demolished had been squatters for several months and that local Congress leader Waseem had taken money from them and got them houses.
Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister DK Shivakumar said there was no question of “donating anything to the attackers”. “The evictees said that some people collected money and allowed them to build their sheds there. We will take action against those who helped the encroachment. We will provide accommodation to the eligible evictees on humanitarian land through the Pradhan Mantri Awas scheme.”
Officials from the Karnataka Housing Department visited Fakir Colony and Waseem Colony in Kogil and started a survey among the residents. They were seen on Tuesday collecting copies of documents, both identity cards and utility bills and other documents held by residents.
“What about the other homeless people?”
Mr. Ashok said that if the government is to allot alternative flats to the squatters in this case, then those affected by about 40 such drives, which were earlier conducted only in Bengaluru city, must be given alternative places. He said that according to government data presented in the recently concluded legislative session, there are a total of 37.48 lakh homeless or homeless people in the state and 98,487 were homeless in Bengaluru city district alone.
The Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council on Tuesday wrote to the Chief Minister and other members of the government, calling for the construction of low-cost flats and allotment of them to migrant laborers from North Karnataka working in the city.
“I can’t afford to pay for new apartments”
Meanwhile, residents who lost their houses in Fakir Colony and Waseem Colony, Kogilu are stranded. Many live in their relatives’ houses or in the open, pitching tents. Sami Ahmed, 57, a car driver who lost his house in the demolition drive, said his family moved here from Goripalye in 2001 and has an ID showing the address dating back to at least 2008, contradicting claims they are recent settlers.
The state government has now promised them replacement flats in the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation Ltd housing complex. at Baiyyappanahalli, Byatarayanapura, seven km from Kogilu Layout. “Now they say flats will be allotted at highly subsidized rates, but we should pay ₹2.5 lakh. I don’t think any family here can afford to pay that much. Many live here by begging and doing menial jobs,” he said.
Published – 30 Dec 2025 21:07 IST
