Congress creating mini Bangladesh in Karnataka, says BJP leader R Ashoka
Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka, on Wednesday, accused the Congress Government of creating ‘mini-Bangladesh’ in the State due to its appeasement politics.
Launching a scathing attack on the Congress Government after visiting the eviction site at Kogilu layout in Yelahanka, Ashoka alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was encouraging large-scale encroachment and illegal settlements.
The Congress government came under severe criticism from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) for demolishing houses for the minorities. Alarmed by it, the Congress high command too intervened and directed the State Government to be compassionate to the minorities.
The State Government has announced that it will provide alternative housing arrangements for those genuine residents among them. The BJP flayed the Government for taking a U-turn on the issue, saying that this was ‘appeasement politics’.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to the demolition spot, Ashoka said the State was witnessing an alarming trend after the change in government and questioned the identity and origin of those residing on encroached Government land.
The BJP leader pointed out that Google Maps showed no houses in the area a year ago, indicating that the settlements had come up only in the last six months, and questioned how electricity connections were provided so quickly. Ashoka said, “The Congress Government, led by Siddaramaiah, is creating mini Bangladeshs in Karnataka. After fooling Kannadigas for so long, they are now building a mini-Bangladesh in the State.”
He said nearly four lakh people in Karnataka were living without electricity as their houses were deemed unauthorised, while residents of the Kogilu slum had been provided high-end cable electricity connections.
“When taxpayers of this state are living without power, how are these people getting expensive cable connections? Are they relatives of Siddaramaiah?” he asked.
Ashoka claimed the residents were said to have come from Penukonda in Andhra Pradesh and questioned contradictory claims about their age and duration of stay.
