Chidambaram warns Karnataka govt against ‘bulldozer justice’ over drug crackdown remarks
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram has expressed shock over Karnataka Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwar’s reported statement that the state government is considering stringent measures, including demolishing houses occupied by foreign nationals allegedly involved in drug trafficking, as part of a broader strategy to curb the drug menace.
Taking to social media platform X, Chidambaram made it clear that the Congress party is firmly opposed to what he described as “bulldozer justice.” He cautioned the Karnataka government against adopting any course of action that goes against the Supreme Court’s settled position on demolitions without due process of law.
“I am disturbed by reports that the Home Minister has said buildings housing drug traffickers will be demolished. I hope the report is incorrect,” Chidambaram wrote. He underlined that the Supreme Court has clearly laid down the law, stating that demolishing houses without following legal procedure is illegal and amounts to a violation of the fundamental and human rights of other family members who have not been proven guilty.
Chidambaram reiterated that the Congress party’s stand is that the ‘bulldozer justice’ model seen in Uttar Pradesh is wrong, unlawful and unjust. “A Congress-ruled state like Karnataka should not go down the same illegal path,” he said, urging the state government to adhere strictly to constitutional principles and judicial guidelines.
The controversy follows a statement made by Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwar in the Legislative Council while responding to a question by Congress MLC K. Abdul Jabbar. Parameshwar had said the government is implementing a comprehensive strategy to combat drug trafficking across the state and that tough measures, including the demolition of houses occupied by foreign nationals involved in the drug trade, were being considered.
Chidambaram also referred to a Supreme Court order issued in November 2024, which strongly upheld the principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty. The order, passed by a two-judge Bench headed by former Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, clearly directed that no building should be demolished without issuing a prior show-cause notice and following due legal process.
The issue has sparked a wider political debate in Karnataka, with opposition leaders and legal experts arguing that while the fight against drugs must be firm and effective, it cannot come at the cost of constitutional safeguards, the rule of law, and the protection of fundamental rights.
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