**Title:** Karnataka Government Defends Housing Relief Amid Controversy
**Meta Description:** Karnataka’s Deputy CM defends housing aid for evicted residents, dismissing claims of appeasement politics amid ongoing controversy.
**URL Slug:** karnataka-housing-relief-controversy
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**Karnataka Government Defends Housing Relief Amid Controversy**
In the wake of significant backlash regarding the demolition of numerous homes in a Muslim-majority area of Bengaluru, Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has staunchly defended the state government’s decision to offer alternative housing to “genuine individuals.” He emphasized that the initiative is not a case of appeasement politics, as claimed by opposition parties, and clarified that no benefits would be extended to encroachers.
On Monday, the Congress-led government announced plans to provide alternative accommodation to legitimate homeless residents whose illegally constructed homes were demolished during a recent eviction operation in northern Bengaluru. Shivakumar highlighted that this relief effort is purely humanitarian and will be available only to verified local residents.
“There is no appeasement politics here. We will take action against those who facilitated the encroachment. The evictees themselves have stated that certain individuals collected money and allowed them to set up sheds there. On humanitarian grounds, we will provide housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to those found eligible,” Shivakumar stated, addressing criticism from BJP leaders and others regarding the government’s prompt response to the evicted residents.
The Deputy Chief Minister also mentioned that he has instructed officials to investigate claims from some displaced residents regarding previously issued land rights, while noting that recent encroachments by outsiders have also occurred. “We will identify the original settlers and rehabilitate them,” he assured.
In response to concerns about some evictees allegedly possessing identity cards from two different states, Shivakumar confirmed that officials would look into the matter. He further addressed criticism from Kerala MPs regarding his assertion that the situation is an internal issue for Karnataka, stating, “We are running our government well. They can make whatever statements they want, but we will not allow encroachments.”
Shivakumar pointed out that previous administrations failed to fulfill their promises during past floods, asserting that they lack the authority to lecture Karnataka on governance.
The government’s announcement of rehabilitation measures follows a political outcry, including condemnation from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who characterized the demolitions in Waseem Layout and Fakir Colony as a “brutal normalization of bulldozer raj.” Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, a Kerala native, also expressed serious concerns to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, emphasizing that such demolitions should have been conducted with greater caution, sensitivity, and compassion, prioritizing the human impact.
**FAQ**
**Q: What is the Karnataka government’s stance on the recent house demolitions?**
A: The Karnataka government, led by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, defends its decision to provide alternative housing to legitimate residents affected by recent demolitions, asserting that the initiative is humanitarian and not politically motivated.
