DK Shivakumar clarifies ‘we don’t want Keralites’ remark, says comment aimed at Kerala govt, not people

DK Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday sought to defuse the controversy triggered by his “we don’t want Keralites” remark, clarifying that his comments were aimed at the Kerala government’s involvement in Karnataka’s affairs and not at the people of Kerala.

Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, Shivakumar accused Kerala BJP president and former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar of misrepresenting his statement to provoke public sentiments.

Stressing his personal rapport with people from Kerala, the Congress leader said there was no animosity towards them and asserted that he would actively campaign in the state during the upcoming elections.

“There is a cordial relationship between me and Keralites. The people of Kerala like me and I have respect for them. I will go there for election campaign and our government will be formed there. Hence BJP is trying to create confusion. Let them not indulge in this. Our party leaders have given us suggestions and we accept it," Shivakumar said.

The clarification came amid sharp criticism from the BJP, which accused the deputy chief minister of making derogatory remarks against Keralites in the backdrop of the Kogilu encroachment eviction issue in Bengaluru.

The row erupted after Shivakumar responded to comments made by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who had criticised the demolition drive, terming it “anti-minority aggressive politics” and likening it to a “bulldozer raj”, while alleging that Muslim residents were being selectively targeted.

When questioned about Kerala’s criticism, Shivakumar had said, “We don’t want any Keralites. Our Chief Minister is there, let him do his job." The statement drew immediate backlash, with the BJP branding it as “anti-Kerala”.

Reacting strongly, Chandrasekhar accused the Congress of indulging in divisive politics. “This Congress ‘leader’ is exactly what Rahul Gandhi ordered. For a party that talks of Bharat Jodo and the Constitution, its politics is about dividing people using caste, geography, religion and language," he said in a post on X.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also targeted Shivakumar, questioning whether the Congress leadership in Kerala endorsed the remark. In a post on X, Poonawalla described the comment as an insult to Kerala and asked whether Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a Congress MP from the state, agreed with Shivakumar’s statement.

Addressing the substance of the controversy, Shivakumar defended the Kogilu demolition drive, stating that it was carried out against recent encroachments on government “gomala” land earmarked for solid waste management. He said the area was unsafe for habitation and maintained that notices had been issued prior to the action.

The deputy chief minister added that rehabilitation had been offered to genuine residents and claimed that only a small fraction of those affected were local inhabitants.

He further alleged that land sharks had illegally collected between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2 lakh from people by selling or allotting government land, warning that strict action would be taken against those involved.