The controversy surrounding the demolition of makeshift homes at Kogilu Layout in north Bengaluru has moved beyond a local civic issue and entered a wider political and interstate debate. Allegations by the Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that the demolished settlement was a “mini Pakistan” housing illegal Bangladeshi immigrants have given the episode a sharper political edge.

The dispute intensified after Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka visited the Kogilu Layout area near Yelahanka and accused the Congress-led state government of allowing illegal settlements to come up deliberately. According to Ashoka, satellite images and Google Maps data showed that there were no residential structures in the area about a year ago, suggesting that the settlement developed rapidly over the last few months.

“How were electricity connections given so quickly?” Ashoka asked, alleging that the Siddaramaiah government had enabled large-scale encroachments. He further claimed, “After misleading Kannadigas for years, the Congress is now creating mini Bangladeshs in Karnataka.”

Ashoka has earlier accused the Congress of trying to turn Karnataka into a “mini Pakistan” for vote-bank politics by appeasing minorities. His renewed attack following the Kogilu demolitions has pushed the issue into more controversial territory, with allegations now extending beyond encroachment to claims of illegal immigration.

The BJP’s fresh allegations have overshadowed an earlier criticism by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who had accused the Karnataka government of practising “bulldozer politics” through the demolitions. With the BJP escalating its rhetoric, the focus has shifted from the demolition itself to broader claims of illegal settlements and immigration.

The Congress government has firmly rejected these accusations. Home Minister G Parameshwara dismissed the BJP’s charge that the Congress had used illegal immigrants for electoral gains. “There is no question of that. The Congress has never indulged in such practices and never will,” he said.

Responding to Ashoka’s claim that those displaced during the demolition were illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, Parameshwara said that any such individuals found would be deported. “If any Bangladeshi nationals are found to be staying illegally, the police will take them into custody and deport them. Those involved in criminal activities will face arrest. There will be no alternative housing or facilities for illegal immigrants,” he said.

The home minister clarified that identifying illegal Bangladeshi immigrants is part of a statewide exercise and not limited to Kogilu alone. He pointed out that Karnataka had already deported over 200 illegal Bangladeshi migrants in July this year after targeted crackdowns, particularly in the construction sector. Most of those deported were daily-wage labourers who failed document verification and were sent back. Several were found working in coffee estates and construction sites across the state.

Parameshwara also warned the Opposition against making provocative statements. While acknowledging the BJP’s right to protest and oppose the government, he said the issue should not be communalised. “The law will take its course. There is no protection for anyone staying illegally,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has begun surveying the demolished area and preparing a list of people who lost their shelters. Explaining the process, Parameshwara said, “Once the list is prepared, the police will verify the background of each individual—their origin, how long they have been in Bengaluru and the nature of their stay at the site. Decisions will be taken only after that process.”

The controversy stems from the demolition of 167 makeshift sheds at Kogilu on December 20. The structures had been built on government land earmarked for a solid waste management facility. As political pressure mounted after the demolition, the Karnataka government announced that alternative housing would be provided to displaced families who are genuine residents of Karnataka and do not own houses or residential sites.

Initially, January 1 was mentioned as the date for handing over alternative homes. However, officials later said the process could take a few more days as document verification is still ongoing. The GBA has deployed teams to examine applications and identify eligible beneficiaries. Officials said the alternative accommodation would be located within a seven-kilometre radius of Kogilu.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defended the government’s action, stating that the structures were illegal and stood on 15 acres of government land allocated to the municipal corporation for waste processing. “We are providing alternative accommodation purely on humanitarian grounds,” he said, while reiterating that encroachment on government land would not be tolerated.

The chief minister also said action would be taken against officials who allowed the illegal sheds to come up in the first place. He noted that the land was close to a rock quarry and a garbage dumping site and that biogas emissions made it unsafe for habitation.

The issue had earlier escalated after Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the demolitions, calling them part of a broader “bulldozer raj” and highlighting that most of those affected were Muslims. However, with the BJP’s latest allegations, the political focus has shifted sharply, turning the Kogilu demolition drive into a larger and more contentious debate over governance, legality, and political responsibility.