Bengaluru, Aug 18 (IANS) The Janata Dal (Secular) (JD‑S) organised a massive protest rally at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on Tuesday against the Bidadi Township Project, with Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel and JD‑S leader H.D. Kumaraswamy launching a scathing attack on Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
He accused the state government of colluding with private interests to acquire and exploit farmers’ land worth thousands of crores.
Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, JD‑S youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy, several party leaders, and thousands of farmers from villages around Bidadi attended the protest opposing the proposed land acquisition.
Addressing the rally, Kumaraswamy vowed that the JD‑S would not allow Bidadi farmers to lose their land and challenged Shivakumar to an open debate on the Bidadi Township and NICE projects.
He alleged that the government was trying to acquire fertile agricultural land while taking control of the NICE project through private and benami companies.
“The government is displaying arrogance. Through the Bidadi Township and NICE projects, it is attempting to loot land worth thousands of crores in collusion with private individuals,” he said.
Kumaraswamy insisted that NICE was Deve Gowda’s dream project and Bidadi Township his own, but claimed both had been damaged over time.
He accused Shivakumar of hypocrisy, alleging that while Congress leaders advised people in Kanakapura not to sell their land, the government was attempting to acquire agricultural land in Bidadi.
“Kanakapura gets butter, while Bidadi gets punishment,” he remarked.
He further alleged irregularities in the Bangalore‑Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP), claimed agreements relating to NICE were violated, and questioned the use of NICE‑acquired land for private apartment projects.
He said land acquired from the public had been mortgaged to raise funds and referred to Karnataka High Court observations on NICE, demanding explanations from the government.
Kumaraswamy urged the government to examine a report prepared by a committee headed by Congress leader T.B. Jayachandra and return land under NICE’s control to farmers if not used for its intended purpose. He questioned the proposed compensation, alleging the government was offering around Rs 3 crore for land valued much higher earlier.
He warned the government against provoking farmers and said the JD‑S would continue its agitation peacefully.
“I will not allow injustice to the Bidadi farmers under any circumstances. As long as I am alive, I will stand with them and fight for their rights,” he declared.
–IANS
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