BENGALURU
Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Ashwath Narayan on Thursday alleged that all residents of Kogilu Layout are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, demanding an immediate investigation into the matter. He claimed the presence of over 25 lakh Bangladeshis in Karnataka posed a serious challenge to law and order in the state.
“Let the government clarify whether this is true or not. The state is witnessing a massive racket. Those living in Kogilu Layout are not our countrymen at all,” Ashwath Narayan said, urging authorities to identify and deport illegal immigrants. He added that these individuals had entered Karnataka via West Bengal, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, highlighting what he described as a “mini Bangladesh” being created in Bengaluru.
The former Deputy CM criticised the government’s plan to provide housing to the residents, calling it illegal and unconstitutional. “Is it ideal to give houses to people who came illegally? Who is behind this racket? The government should catch these infiltrators and send them back to Bangladesh,” he said.
Addressing Venugopal’s statement praising the state government’s housing policy, Narayan questioned the legality and morality of the move. He pointed out that documentation and land allocations for these residents were dubious and that even surrounding houses were illegal. He also mocked the government for being unaware of existing housing scheme rates, saying, “No one is eligible, yet they are giving houses without verification.”
Narayan demanded a thorough probe into the network facilitating illegal migration and called for strict enforcement of laws to prevent further irregularities, asserting that failure to act would have serious consequences for Bengaluru and Karnataka as a whole.
This statement comes amid rising political tensions in Karnataka over the Kogilu Layout housing issue, which has become a flashpoint between the ruling Congress and opposition BJP.