A remark by Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on the possibility of razing down the houses of drug peddlers has drawn sharp criticism from senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram, triggering an internal debate within the ruling party.
Parameshwara had said the state government is taking "strict action against drug peddlers on a daily basis," adding that officials are not only tracking offenders and acting against those renting out homes to them but are also considering "razing down their houses."
In a strongly worded social media post, Chidambaram said he was "alarmed" by the remarks.
"I hope the report is wrong. The Supreme Court has declared the law: demolishing homes without due process is illegal and will violate the rights of other family members to a shelter," he wrote.
He further reminded that the Congress Party has consistently opposed "bulldozer justice" as practised in Uttar Pradesh.
"Let not a Congress-governed state like Karnataka go down the illegal path of UP," he cautioned.
Parameshwara's comments have now prompted questions about the government's anti-drug strategy and opened space for both internal criticism and opposition attacks.
