‘We Don't Want Italians’: DK Shivakumar’s ‘We Don’t Want Keralites’ Remark Draws BJP’s Ire

Last Updated:December 30, 2025, 11:56 IST

BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar criticised Shivakumar, accusing the Congress of divisive politics.

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar

A political row has erupted after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar made remarks about Keralites while responding to questions on the Kogilu demolition drive in Bengaluru.

The controversy began when a reporter asked Shivakumar about criticism from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the 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.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla questioned whether the Congress leadership in Kerala accepted Shivakumar’s remark. In a post on X, he said the statement, made while trying to attack Pinarayi Vijayan, amounted to an insult to Kerala. He also asked whether senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is an MP from Kerala, agreed with the comment.

Poonawalla said, “The battle between the Left and Congress has now escalated to such levels that DK Shivakumar is openly making anti-Kerala, anti-Malayali statements. He has said that we don’t need Keralites. Does the Kerala Congress agree with this statement? What about people from the Congress party who are not from Kerala, but contest in Kerala? Does Priyanka Vadra agree with this statement? This is the ‘tukde-tukde’ mindset of Congress… The main issue is that the Congress itself is using the bulldozer in Karnataka… But when the bulldozer is used in UP, they cry about it, because in UP it is used against the mafia…"

Accusing the Congress of trusting foreigners, Poonawala said, “INC no longer means Indian Congress but Islamabad Congress. That is why they can’t even get the national anthem right on its foundation day. This is a party that says we have to fight against the Indian state, which doubts the Army, attacks Constitutional institutions, and opposes Vande Mataram… When you have more faith in Italy and Rome, and not in India, then you are bound to make such mistakes."

Former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar also criticised Shivakumar, accusing the Congress of divisive politics. He said the party spoke about unity and the Constitution but practised politics based on geography, caste, religion and language. Taking a sharp dig, Chandrasekhar asked whether, by the same logic, people should say they do not want “Italians and half Italians" interfering in Kerala and India.

Shivakumar later defended the Kogilu demolition drive, saying the action was against recent encroachments on government “gomala" land meant for solid waste management. He said the land was unsafe for habitation and that notices had been issued before the demolitions were carried out.

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

The remarks and the BJP’s response have added a new political dimension to the Kogilu demolition issue.

News politics ‘We Don't Want Italians’: DK Shivakumar’s ‘We Don’t Want Keralites’ Remark Draws BJP’s Ire

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