Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy criticized Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar for issuing a fresh land acquisition notification for villages under the Bidadi Township Project. Kumaraswamy called the move “inhumane, cruel, and morally indefensible,” accusing the government of betraying farmers despite assurances of no forced land acquisition.
Questioning the timing of the notification, Kumaraswamy alleged that some individuals had prior knowledge of the decision. He highlighted discrepancies between the government’s public statements and the actual issuance of land acquisition notifications. The Union Minister also raised concerns about the government’s decision to proceed with land acquisition while forming a committee to review the issue.
Amid ongoing farmer protests, Kumaraswamy criticized Shivakumar’s response to agitators and urged the immediate withdrawal of the project if deemed unnecessary. He emphasized that farmers had consistently opposed the Bidadi project and accused the government of disguising land acquisition as development. Kumaraswamy concluded by cautioning against the misuse of power and stated that the people of Karnataka would judge the actions taken.
