Bidadi Township Row: Karnataka CM and Union Minister Clash Over Land Acquisition and Compensation Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy engaged in a heated exchange on Saturday, June 21, over the proposed Bidadi Township project, accusing each other of shifting positions and questioning the legitimacy of land acquisition for industrial development. The dispute centered on the project’s origins, the compensation offered to farmers, and the legal status of the land in question. Shivakumar, addressing reporters after a Cabinet meeting at Vidhana Soudha, accused Kumaraswamy of being the project’s “architect” and criticized him for changing his stance on the initiative. He claimed that Kumaraswamy had previously supported the project’s original proposal, which included offering farmers 40% of the developed land as compensation. The current government, Shivakumar stated, had increased this share to 50%, and compensation payments at a rate of Rs 2.5 crore per acre had begun distribution. The Chief Minister also asserted that the Bidadi Township project was not a new initiative of the Congress-led government. He argued that Kumaraswamy had issued the initial notification for the project, which was later continued by former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. Shivakumar questioned Kumaraswamy’s opposition to the current proposal, asking why the Union Minister had previously declared the Bidadi region a “red zone” and issued the original notification if he now opposed the project. Shivakumar further accused the opposition of politicizing the issue, claiming they demanded industrial development while opposing land acquisition.#vidhana_soudha #karnataka_legislative_assembly #bidadi_township #karnataka_cm #hd_kumaraswamy
R. Ashok Criticizes Government's Bidadi Township Land Acquisition Plan The opposition leader R. Ashok has strongly condemned the Karnataka government's plan to acquire farmers' land for the Bidadi township project, calling it a betrayal of rural communities. He accused the ruling party of attempting to displace farmers by using fake farmers to support the land acquisition process. Ashok emphasized that genuine farmers are firmly opposed to surrendering their land for any reason, highlighting the government's efforts to mislead the public. Ashok pointed out that the Bidadi area is a fertile agricultural region known for producing tea, mangoes, silk, and dairy products. He argued that the government's attempt to seize this land is unjust, especially since there are already 3,000 acres of government-owned land in the area that could be utilized instead of targeting private farmland. The opposition leader also criticized the government for failing to address the urgent need for infrastructure development in the region. The controversy has sparked significant backlash from the farming community, with rural organizations condemning the government's actions. Ashok accused the ruling party of prioritizing political interests over the welfare of farmers, stating that the government's plan is a deliberate attempt to undermine rural livelihoods. He further criticized the delay in conducting elections for the five municipal corporations under the Greater Bangalore Authority, claiming that the Congress government is intentionally postponing the process to avoid potential electoral losses. Ashok argued that the delay in elections is a strategic move by the ruling party to prevent the BJP from gaining momentum in urban areas.#farmers #karnataka_government #r_ashok #bidadi_township #greater_bangalore_authority
