Karnataka Adopts ‘Bulldozer Raj’: Congress Government Faces Criticism Over Mass Evictions in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: In a move that has sparked widespread outrage, Congress-ruled Karnataka appears to be following the controversial "bulldozer model' previously associated with Uttar Pradesh. In a large-scale eviction drive near Yelahanka in north Bengaluru, authorities demolished nearly 500 houses, leaving close to 3,000 people, mostly from the Muslim community, homeless.

The demolitions took place in Fakir Colony and Wasim Layout in Kogilu village during the early hours of Saturday. Acting under the direction of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), Karnataka Police and civic officials launched the operation around 4 am., deploying four JCB machines and nearly 150 police personnel. The sudden action triggered panic, resistance, and protests among residents.

Authorities justified the demolition by claiming the houses were built on encroached government land near a lake adjoining the Urdu Government School and that the constructions lacked official permission. However, residents insist that the action was carried out without serving any prior notice, raising serious questions about due process and legality.

More than 350 families have been rendered homeless overnight, with women, children, and pregnant residents left stranded on the streets. Many families claim they have lived in the area for over 25 years and possess valid Aadhaar cards and voter ID documents. Most residents are migrant workers from Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh, surviving through informal and marginal livelihoods.

Critics argue that the Siddaramaiah government, which has often positioned itself as a protector of minorities and constitutional values, has remained conspicuously silent on the incident. The lack of an official response has further fueled allegations of selective governance and the normalisation of punitive demolitions without rehabilitation or alternative arrangements.

Residents have accused political leaders of hypocrisy, alleging that ministers had visited the area during election campaigns, promising basic amenities and regularisation, only to now sanction their forcible eviction. The failure to account for humanitarian concerns, particularly involving vulnerable groups, has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights activists.

Amid growing controversy, Karnataka State Minorities Commission Chairman U Nisar Ahmed visited the site and openly criticised the authorities for carrying out the eviction without adhering to proper legal procedures. He assured residents that their complaints would be examined and appropriate action would be initiated.

As images of bulldozed homes and displaced families circulate widely, the incident has reignited debate over whether Karnataka, under a Congress government, is quietly embracing a governance model it once claimed to oppose, one that prioritises force over law, and spectacle over justice.