Bengaluru: On July 17 the Karnataka BJP organized a large demonstration at Freedom Park in Bengaluru to oppose the proposed Bidadi Township project. Party members accused the state Congress administration of acquiring fertile farmland without adequate consultation and of disregarding local farmers concerns. Several senior BJP figures former chief ministers and women farmers took part in the event and called for the immediate cancellation of the project.
Women farmers who had previously challenged survey teams during acquisition drives also attended carrying placards and chanting slogans against the administration. The BJP stated that the project continues despite months of opposition from residents in the affected areas.
Opposition leader R Ashoka told the gathering that the township would mainly benefit private interests rather than the public. He said the plan would harm large numbers of people and claimed Chief Minister D K Shivakumar was proceeding despite strong local resistance.
Ashoka described the project as one designed to generate gains for the ruling party and warned that criminal cases filed against protesting farmers must be dropped or the agitation would expand to include blockades at police stations. He also rejected any suggestion that the BJP had been involved in planning the township or that former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy was connected to it.
Ashoka further criticized the government handling of drought conditions arguing that officials were prioritizing real estate schemes over relief for farmers. He said the administration should declare drought and provide support instead of acquiring agricultural land.
State BJP president B Y Vijayendra accused the Congress government of favoring powerful real estate groups at the expense of landowners. He claimed officials and intermediaries were pressuring farmers to give up their property and urged the Chief Minister to halt the project and develop any new township only on government land.
Vijayendra also linked the township plan and a proposed second airport to real estate interests and questioned why national Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had not spoken on the matter. Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje called the state administration a land mafia government and asked why another township was needed near Bengaluru when earlier layouts still lacked basic facilities.
Legislative Council Opposition leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said nearly 60 000 acres around the city faced acquisition risk. While not opposing townships in principle he called for decentralized growth and suggested new projects be located in districts such as Kolar or Chikkaballapur.
BJP MLC C T Ravi noted that Bidadi farmers had been protesting for three months and highlighted the states rainfall shortage affecting over 160 taluks. He said the government should focus on drinking water fodder and crop losses rather than new township plans.
Former Chief Ministers B S Yediyurappa and D V Sadananda Gowda along with other BJP legislators attended the protest and repeated calls for the government to withdraw the Bidadi Township proposal.
