Overview
- DK Shivakumar urged Pinarayi Vijayan not to comment without knowing on-ground facts and called the Kerala CM’s remarks unfortunate.
- He maintained the Yelahanka operation was to safeguard encroached public land at a waste dumpsite and alleged land mafia attempts to create a slum.
- Vijayan had condemned the bulldozing of Faqir Colony and Waseem Layout as “bulldozer justice” and labeled it anti-minority politics under a Congress government.
- BSWML carried out the December 20 drive in north Bengaluru, with media reports citing more than 200 houses removed and residents saying nearly 400 families were left homeless in a cold spell.
- Residents said they received no prior notice, described heavy police presence, and showed Aadhaar and electricity bills to assert long-term residence, while BSWML’s CEO said the structures stood on five acres of government land.