Bengaluru, June 12: Central Minister and Karnataka JD(S) President H.D. Kumaraswamy condemned the Congress government on Friday for issuing the final notification for land acquisition for the Bidadi Township project, despite strong opposition from farmers. He announced plans to fight a legal battle against this decision.
Kumaraswamy stated that he would stand up for the farmers whose land is at risk of being taken away.
The controversy surrounding the Bidadi Township is linked to the Karnataka government’s plan to acquire agricultural land near Bengaluru for the proposed township project. The Bidadi area is located close to Bengaluru.
Despite the protests, the Congress government, led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, issued the final notification for land acquisition on Friday.
Kumaraswamy challenged Chief Minister Shivakumar to visit the affected villages and determine whether the landowners notified for acquisition are indeed farmers.
He remarked that calling farmers anything other than farmers is a peak of arrogance. It is a grave insult to those who feed the nation. If the Chief Minister wants to know if they are truly farmers, he should visit those villages. He expressed his willingness to accompany him, allowing the villagers to decide if those losing their land are farmers or not.
Kumaraswamy criticized the government’s decision to issue the final notification as unjust. He alleged that farmers have been protesting for 470 days and that the disputed land is fertile agricultural land. He accused the government of attempting to seize it for a real estate project, thereby trying to displace farmers from their land. He noted that FIRs have been filed against protesting farmers, despite the Home Minister claiming no such FIRs exist. He expressed confusion over the situation in the state, stating that the government is displaying tyrannical arrogance.
He further pointed out that the tragedy is compounded by the fact that representatives elected by the villagers, whom they brought to power, have also become part of this process.
Kumaraswamy emphasized that farmers’ consent is essential for any government notification. The government cannot proceed without their approval. Nevertheless, the government has issued the final notification, attempting to destroy farmers’ livelihoods, which he deemed inexcusable.
He claimed that 80 to 90 percent of farmers oppose this project, with only a few selfish elements wanting the Bidadi settlement. He alleged that police and hired goons are oppressing farmers resisting the loss of their land. He noted that there is plenty of barren land available elsewhere for developing settlements, yet the government is conspiring to seize land specifically from the residents of Bidadi.
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