‘Twisting My Comments’: DK Shivakumar Clarifies ‘We Don’t Want Keralites’ Remark | Politics News

DK Shivakumar, the deputy chief minister and state KPCC president. (PTI)

Karnataka deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday issued a clarification over his controversial “we don’t want Keralites” remark, saying that it was directed at the Kerala government’s interference in Karnataka’s affairs and not against the people of Kerala.

While speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, the deputy Chief Minister slammed Kerala BJP chief and former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and said that the latter was trying to mislead people by twisting his statement.

Emphasising his ties with the people of Kerala, Shivakumar said there was a cordial relationship between him and Keralites. He further said that he would campaign for the upcoming polls in Kerala and the Congress would form the government there.

“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,” he said.

What’s The Row?

Shivakumar’s clarification came after BJP hit out at the Congress leader over his remarks against people from Kerala in connection with the Kogilu encroachment eviction row.

The controversy began when a reporter asked Shivakumar about criticism from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over demolitions. Vijayan had described the action as “anti-minority aggressive politics” and compared it to a “bulldozer raj”, alleging that Muslim residents were being targeted.

Reacting to a question on Kerala’s role in the issue, Shivakumar said, “We don’t want any Keralites. Our Chief Minister is there, let him do his job.” The comment quickly triggered backlash, with the BJP calling it an “anti-Kerala” statement.

Reacting strongly, Chandrasekhar accused the Congress of practising divisive politics. He alleged that the party seeks to divide people on the basis of caste, geography, religion, and language. “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,” Chandrasekhar said in a post on X.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also attacked Shivakumar, questioning whether the Congress leadership in Kerala accepted the remark. In a post on X, Poonawalla said the statement amounted to an insult to Kerala and asked whether Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, an MP from Kerala, agreed with the comment.

Defending the Kogilu demolition drive, Shivakumar said the action was taken against recent encroachments on government “gomala” land earmarked for solid waste management. He said the land was unsafe for habitation and that notices had been issued before the demolitions.

The deputy Chief Minister said relocation had been offered to genuine residents and claimed that only a small number of those affected were local residents. He also alleged that land sharks had collected between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2 lakh from people by illegally selling or allotting land, and said strict action would be taken against them.