Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Defends Fakir Colony Eviction as Illegal Occupation Crackdown Amid Kerala CM's Criticism
On Saturday, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, when asked about the removal of people from Fakir Colony in Bengaluru, responded that it was an action against the illegal occupation of government land.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) December 27: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday justified the removal of people at Fakir Colony in Bengaluru by stating that it was a compelled action against the illegal occupation of government land.
Assurance of Alternative Housing for Migrants
The Karnataka CM stated that he had instructed the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Chief Commissioner and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department to provide alternative accommodation for those who had been evicted as the majority of them are migrants.
“They have come here from other places, but from the human point of view, we have to make alternative arrangements and provide them a dwelling,” he said.
DK Shivakumar Slams Kerala CM's Interference
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also criticised Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for unnecessarily meddling in the eviction of encroached land in Bengaluru.
He said, "It is unfortunate that senior leaders like Pinarayi Vijayan have commented on this without knowing the facts of the matter. The land which was cleared of encroachment was a solid waste pit. There are many health-related issues in the area due to this. We also have humanity, and we had given them an opportunity to move to other areas. Leaders like Pinarayi Vijayan should not interfere in such matters. The land mafia sets up slums in order to encroach upon the land at a later stage; we won't let that happen. We are willing to give houses under the Rajiv Gandhi scheme if there are eligible people.”
Pinarayi Vijayan Brands It Anti-Minority Politics
Siddaramaiah's reaction is a counter to the criticism by his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan, who had spoken against the supposed "bulldozer action" in Bengaluru.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has expressed his disapproval of the eviction of Muslim families in the Faqir Colony and Waseem Layout of Bengaluru, branding the act as anti minority politics by the Congress government. About 400 families had been rendered homeless following the demolition drive on December 20.
As noted by Pinarayi Vijayan, who observed that everything that is a violent political act against the fundamentalist values of our constitution is a political offense to human life and asked the secular and democratic forces to join hands in battling such acts.
Residents Protest Amid Harsh Weather Challenges
Over 200 houses were destroyed and nearly 400 families were homeless during the construction operation. It occurred in one of the coldest weeks in Bengaluru over the last few years. A good number of the displaced people were accommodated in temporary shelters at the same site.
The residents described the eviction as “failing notice”. They claimed they had been living in the area for years and protested for their rights.
Local journalists who covered the story quoted some residents who said that they had lived in the area for 25 years and that they had valid Aadhaar cards and voter IDs.
