India, Dec. 28 -- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday defended the eviction drive at Fakir Colony in Bengaluru, saying it was a necessary action against the illegal occupation of Government land. Siddaramaiah's reaction comes as a response to his Kerala counterpart, Pinarayi Vijayan, who had condemned the alleged "bulldozer action" in Bengaluru.

Vijayan had on Friday strongly criticised the reported demolition of structures in minority residential areas in Karnataka's capital, calling the action "shocking and painful". Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Siddaramaiah said that since 2019, people were living unauthorised on a five-acre plot designated for solid waste management. "... There is no safety there. So, officials serve...