A fact-finding team from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that visited Bengaluru's Kogilu Layout in Yelahanka on Saturday has made a significant claim regarding the recent demolition drive by the state government. The team asserted that a vast majority of the illegally constructed houses that were razed had been built only in the last two years.
MLA's Startling Revelation on Construction Timeline
Yelahanka MLA and BJP member SR Vishwanath stated that approximately 95% of the houses and huts cleared during the anti-encroachment operation were constructed since 2023. This finding, according to the MLA, challenges the narrative surrounding the settlements. The team inspected the affected areas, including Fakir Colony and Waseem Layout, interacting with residents.
During the visit, some displaced residents raised concerns about being wrongly labeled as Bangladeshi immigrants. Vishwanath criticized the state government's actions, alleging a politically motivated hurry. "Houses were not provided to flood victims or those who lost homes built on rajakaluves (stormwater drains). The state government hurried in providing housing for illegal occupants of government land just for vote bank politics," he claimed.
Protest Planned and Allegations of Political Protection
The BJP MLA announced that party members will stage a large-scale protest in Kogilu Layout on Monday. He indicated that the protest would include people who have been waiting for decades for houses under schemes like the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation. "Those who applied... and are still waiting for houses for decades will participate in the protest before approaching the court," Vishwanath said.
He also made a serious allegation, claiming that a person identified as Waseem was the mastermind behind the encroachment of government land and that the layout was even named after him. Vishwanath demanded his immediate arrest and accused the ruling Congress party of shielding him. "I will ensure hundreds of people erect 100 makeshift roofs on government land across the city and the government provide them houses after demolishing them," he warned, highlighting what he sees as a flawed policy.
Report to Detail Encroachment and Impact
The fact-finding team is compiling a comprehensive report based on its visit. Vishwanath confirmed that this report, containing critical evidence, will be submitted to the party chief within a couple of days. The document will include:
- Details on the transfer of land to the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
- Relevant survey numbers and legal documents.
- Google Maps imagery for comparative analysis.
- Specific information about the residents affected by the demolition drive.
This move sets the stage for a continued political confrontation over land rights, rehabilitation, and alleged encroachment in Bengaluru's expanding urban landscape.
