BJP holds protests against land acquisition for proposed Bidadi township project

Bengaluru, Jul 17 (PTI) Karnataka BJP on Friday held a massive protest at the city's Freedom Park against the Congress government's move to acquire farmers' land for the proposed GBIT project near Bidadi in Bengaluru South district. Demanding that the government immediately drop the project and withdraw criminal cases registered against protesting farmers, BJP leaders warned that the party would fight both inside the legislature and on the streets across the state, alongside farmers. The protest was led by veteran leader and former CM B S Yediyurappa, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra, Leaders of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and Council R Ashoka and Chalavadhi Narayanaswamy, and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje. Despite opposition from farmers and local people, the government has issued two sets of final notifications for land acquisition for the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township project, which is projected as India's "first AI-powered integrated township". BJP MPs, MLAs, MLCs, leaders, state office bearers, district presidents, and a large number of workers participated in the protest. Some farmers from villages around Bidadi, who have been protesting the planned acquisition of their fertile agricultural land for the project, also joined the protest. Holding placards, BJP leaders and workers shouted slogans against the Congress government and Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, calling them "anti-farmer". Addressing the gathering, Yediyurappa accused the Shivakumar-led government "intoxicated by power," of betraying farmers, and said, "Vinasha kale vipareeta buddhi" (When one's destruction is near, their intellect works against their own best interests). This government has become a "Tughlaq Darbar," under the influence of a "brute majority." Pointing at the drought situation in the state, he said that while the CM and other ruling party leaders are in Delhi busy discussing Cabinet expansion, no one is hearing the people's suffering. Calling for rooting out this government to protect the state's future, Yediyurappa also urged the CM to drop the project, questioning, "Why go ahead with the township project near Bidadi despite opposition? Why not at some other place where a large scale of government land is available?" "It is well known that your intention is to loot by indulging in real estate to benefit the Congress high command," he further alleged. The BJP and JD(S) together will "put a final nail to the Congress government's coffin," he warned, adding that large-scale protests will be held across the state if the government doesn't drop the project and withdraw cases booked against farmers. He also accused the government of taking the city's second airport project to Kanakapura for real estate benefit. "If the project happens near Tumakuru it will benefit people in the central and northern districts, and a large amount of land is available there." Addressing the gathering, Ashoka said that as soon as Shivakumar came to power, real estate business had begun in Karnataka. The project is being taken up now to fund the party during upcoming elections in three states, he alleged. Demanding that the project should be dropped immediately, he said the BJP will take the issue to its logical end, raise it during the upcoming session, and will stand by farmers in their fight till the end. Calling this government a "disaster" for the farmers and people of the state, he rejected Shivakumar's allegations and clarified that the BJP and JD(S) had no role in the Bidadi project. "In fact, the first and second acquisition notices were issued in 2024 when Siddaramaiah was CM, and Shivakumar is now taking it ahead." In his address, Vijayendra accused Shivakumar of involvement in the real estate business by forcefully taking fertile land from farmers. He alleged that "goons" are being sent to farmers' houses to threaten their families if they refuse to give up the land for the project. He questioned what other interest the CM has in implementing the Bidadi township and taking the second airport project to his home constituency of Kanakapura, if not real estate. He alleged that "Shivakumar had assured Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi that if Siddaramaiah is made to step down and he is made the CM, he will implement Bidadi township project and give an opportunity to DLF in the project. Now he is trying to fulfill that assurance." Claiming that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who spoke about protecting farmers was "missing," Vijayendra urged him to intervene and direct the CM to withdraw cases against farmers and drop the project. He alleged that the Congress high command is also involved in this real estate transaction along with the CM. According to sources, the Bidadi project requires acquiring 9,600 acres spread across nine revenue villages and 16 non-revenue villages. The state government had, in March last year, issued a preliminary notification to acquire a total of 7,481 acres across nine villages in the region, for the proposed project, and more notifications are expected in the coming days. Amid all these, farmers have continued to protest against the project locally. On Monday, broom-wielding women in Mandalahalli chased Joint Measurement Committee (JMC) survey officials, prompting the police to register criminal cases against them. With a section of farmers holding demonstrations in favour of the project, there have been instances of a face-off between pro- and anti-project farmers. PTI KSU KH