BJP Protest against Bidadi Township project
Bengaluru: The Karnataka BJP on July 17, Friday intensified its opposition to the proposed Bidadi Township project by staging a massive protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru, accusing the Congress government of forcibly acquiring fertile agricultural land and ignoring the concerns of farmers. Several senior BJP leaders, former chief ministers and women farmers participated in the demonstration, demanding that the government immediately withdraw the project.
Women farmers who had earlier confronted survey officials during land acquisition exercises also joined the protest, carrying placards and raising slogans against the state government. The BJP alleged that the township project was being pushed despite sustained resistance from local farmers over the past several months.
Addressing the gathering, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka alleged that the township project was aimed at benefiting vested interests rather than serving the public. He claimed the project would adversely affect lakhs of people and accused Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of pursuing it despite widespread opposition.
“This is a project that lays the golden egg for the Congress party. There is clear self-interest behind it. Farmers are opposing it, yet the government is determined to proceed. If the BJP comes to power, we will scrap the Bidadi Township project,” Ashoka said.
He also warned that if criminal cases registered against protesting farmers, including attempt to murder charges, were not withdrawn, the BJP would intensify its agitation by laying siege to police stations. Ashoka further said there was no role of the BJP in the conception of the township project and objected to attempts to link former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy with it.
Criticising the government over the prevailing drought situation, Ashoka said the administration was more interested in real estate projects than addressing the concerns of farmers. He alleged that instead of declaring drought and extending relief measures, the government was focusing on acquiring agricultural land for township development.
State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra accused the Congress government of working to benefit influential real estate interests at the cost of farmers. He alleged that officials and middlemen were intimidating landowners into surrendering their property.
“The Chief Minister should stop this drama and protect farmers’ interests. If a township is required, it should be developed on government land. Farmers should not be forced to part with their agricultural land through pressure or intimidation,” Vijayendra said.
He further alleged that the township project and the proposed second international airport were being pursued with real estate interests in mind. Vijayendra also claimed the Chief Minister was trying to fulfil commitments allegedly made to the Congress high command and questioned why Rahul Gandhi, who had promised to protect farmers’ interests, had remained silent on the issue.
Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje described the Congress administration as a “land mafia government” and accused it of attempting to grab agricultural land across Karnataka. She questioned the necessity of another township around Bengaluru when several existing layouts, including Banashankari Sixth Stage, Kempegowda Layout, Visvesvaraya Layout and Shivarama Karanth Layout, were yet to receive adequate infrastructure.
“Thousands of farmers who surrendered land for earlier projects are still waiting for proper compensation and development. Instead of addressing those issues, the government is planning another township by taking away more agricultural land,” she alleged.
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy claimed that nearly 60,000 acres around Bengaluru were under threat of acquisition. While clarifying that the BJP was not opposed to township development in principle, he argued that growth should be decentralised and suggested that new townships be developed in districts such as Kolar or Chikkaballapur instead of around Bengaluru.
BJP MLC C.T. Ravi said farmers in Bidadi had been protesting continuously for the last three months and reiterated the party’s support for their agitation. He said Karnataka was facing severe rainfall deficiency, with over 160 taluks affected by drought, and accused the government of ignoring issues such as drinking water, fodder and crop distress while prioritising township projects.
“The government should be addressing the problems of drought-hit farmers instead of planning a township over fertile agricultural land. We will continue to stand with the farmers in this fight,” Ravi said.
The protest was attended by former Chief Ministers B.S. Yediyurappa and D.V. Sadananda Gowda, former Minister B. Sriramulu, MLA Suresh Kumar, MLA Munirathna, MLA Byrathi Basavaraj and several other BJP leaders, who reiterated their demand that the state government should withdraw the Bidadi Township proposal and hold consultations with the affected farming community.
