Story by Harshit Uttam I Updated : 01 January 2026
Alongside deportations, document verifications, and heated interstate political exchanges, the Kogilu issue has evolved well beyond a routine demolition drive.
The Karnataka BJP’s claim that the demolished settlement was a ‘mini Pakistan’ sheltering illegal Bangladeshi immigrants has taken the controversy in a new direction.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s accusation that Karnataka’s Congress government was engaging in ‘bulldozer politics’ over the Kogilu demolitions has receded, as the BJP intensifies its offensive with sharper allegations.
After inspecting Kogilu Layout near Yelahanka, the BJP accused the Congress-led government of facilitating extensive encroachments and unauthorized settlements. Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka stated that satellite imagery and Google Maps revealed no residential presence in the locality a year earlier, suggesting the settlement developed rapidly in the past few months.
Ashoka questioned how electricity connections were provided so swiftly, accusing the Siddaramaiah government of deliberately enabling illegal colonies to expand. He further alleged that after misleading Kannadigas for years, the Congress is now fostering ‘mini Bangladeshs’ in Karnataka.
Rejecting allegations from the BJP regarding vote-bank politics, the Congress maintained that it has never used illegal immigrants to secure electoral gains. Home Minister G. Parameshwara clarified earlier, stating, ‘There is no question of that. The Congress has never indulged in such practices and never will.
Ashoka has earlier alleged that the Congress sought to transform Karnataka into a ‘mini Pakistan’ to secure vote-bank gains by appeasing minorities. His latest remarks following the Kogilu demolitions have added a new political dimension to the controversy.
The Karnataka government has firmly countered the allegations. In response to Ashoka’s claim that those displaced in the Kogilu Layout demolition were illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, Home Minister G. Parameshwara stated that anyone found to be undocumented would be deported.
He clarified that identifying illegal Bangladeshi immigrants is part of a state-wide initiative, not confined to Kogilu. In July, Karnataka deported more than 200 undocumented Bangladeshi nationals after targeted crackdowns, especially in the construction sector. Most were daily-wage workers who failed document verification, with several employed in coffee estates and construction sites across the state.
Parameshwara stated that illegal immigrants identified during police checks would not be entitled to any benefits. He clarified that Bangladeshi nationals found residing unlawfully would be detained and deported, while those engaged in criminal activity would face arrest. No alternative housing or facilities would be provided to undocumented immigrants.
Parameshwara cautioned the Opposition against making what he termed irresponsible and provocative comments. He noted that while the BJP had the right to oppose and protest, the matter should not be communalised. He added, ‘The law will take its course, and no protection will be given to those residing illegally.
The Greater Bengaluru Authority has begun surveying the demolished area to compile details of those who lost their homes. According to Home Minister Parameshwara, the police will subsequently examine the background of each person, including their origin, length of stay in Bengaluru, and circumstances of residence, with decisions to follow only after this verification process.
The Kogilu Demolitions
The Kogilu controversy began with the demolition of 167 temporary sheds in north Bengaluru on December 20. The structures were built on government land designated for a solid waste management facility. Under mounting political pressure, the Karnataka government announced that displaced families who are verified as genuine residents of the state and do not own homes would be provided alternative housing. While January 1 was initially set as the date for allotment, officials later clarified that the process may take longer due to ongoing document verification. Teams from the Greater Bengaluru Authority are currently reviewing applications, with new housing planned within seven kilometres of Kogilu.
The controversy deepened after Vijayan criticized the demolition, calling it part of a wider ‘bulldozer raj’ and noting that most affected residents were Muslims. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah clarified that the illegal structures had been built on 15 acres of government land allocated to the municipal corporation for waste management. He stressed that alternative housing was being provided solely on humanitarian grounds, while reiterating that encroachment on state land would not be tolerated. Siddaramaiah further stated that officials who permitted the sheds to be erected would face action, adding that the site—located near a quarry and garbage dump with biogas emissions—was unfit for habitation.
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