Govt’s Bidadi township project aimed to benefit real estate interests, alleges union minister Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru: Union Steel & Heavy Industries Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday intensified his attack on the state government's proposed Bidadi township project, challenging Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to visit the affected villages and see for himself if landowners facing acquisition are "genuine farmers" or not.

Condemning the Congress government's decision to issue the final land acquisition notification despite sustained protests by residents, Kumaraswamy announced plans for a legal challenge against the move and pledged support to the affected farmers.

Kumaraswamy, who is also the JDS State president, took exception to suggestions that the affected landowners are not real farmers, calling such remarks an insult to the farming community.


He invited Shivakumar to accompany him to the villages in the Bidadi region and interact directly with residents whose lands have been notified for acquisition.

"The truth should be determined by the people whose livelihoods and lands are at stake," he said.

Questioning the timing of the final notification, Kumaraswamy pointed out that farmers have been protesting the project for more than 470 days. He alleged that the land earmarked for acquisition comprises fertile agricultural holdings and claimed that the township project is aimed at facilitating large-scale real estate development.

The former Chief Minister also alleged that protesting farmers are facing intimidation, including the filing of police cases, while members of the government continue to deny such actions.

Project Lacks Farmers' Consent

Kumaraswamy said no acquisition exercise of this scale should proceed without the consent of affected landowners.

Claiming that 80-90% of local farmers oppose the project, he alleged that only a small group of vested interests stand to benefit from the development. He questioned why the government was seeking to acquire fertile agricultural land when alternative non-agricultural land parcels were available elsewhere.

Recalling his tenure as Chief Minister, Kumaraswamy said he had proposed five townships across Karnataka in 2006, including one at Bidadi. However, he dropped the proposal after farmers opposed it.

He accused the present government of reviving the project for reasons driven by private interests rather than public welfare.

The Union Minister also criticised reported remarks by Home Minister Priyank Kharge that the project would proceed irrespective of opposition and that those aggrieved could seek legal remedies.