Politics – Kumaraswamy Reaffirms Support for Farmers Amid Bidadi Land Acquisition Row
Politics – The political debate surrounding the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township Project in Bidadi intensified on Friday, as Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy announced that he would remain with protesting farmers and wait for Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to visit the affected area on Saturday. Kumaraswamy maintained that his involvement was solely aimed at supporting farmers who oppose the proposed land acquisition and was not driven by political rivalry or personal interests.
Kumaraswamy Says Farmers’ Opinion Will Decide His Stand
Addressing journalists in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy said he had already informed the Chief Minister about his plan to meet the farmers at the previously announced time. He added that Shivakumar’s visit would be welcomed if it helped resolve the issue through peaceful discussions.
The Union Minister stressed that he had no objection to the township project if the affected landowners willingly agreed to surrender their land. He said that, having previously served as Karnataka’s Chief Minister, he understood the importance of Bengaluru’s growth and had no intention of obstructing development. However, he insisted that any project should move forward only with the consent of the people directly affected.
Allegations Over Counter-Protests
Kumaraswamy claimed that a small group had recently been encouraged to stage a counter-protest in support of the government’s land acquisition plan. According to him, around 20 individuals had gathered under a separate protest tent while farmers opposing the project had been demonstrating continuously for well over a year.
He alleged that nearly 70 to 80 percent of the affected farmers remained opposed to the acquisition and said their agitation had continued for more than 450 days. Kumaraswamy argued that his intervention was based entirely on repeated appeals from the farmers and was not intended to challenge the state government politically.
Calls for Dialogue Instead of Force
Questioning the government’s approach, Kumaraswamy said that forcing farmers to give up their land would only deepen tensions. He urged the state administration to resolve the dispute through discussions and mutual agreement rather than confrontation.
Responding to concerns raised by Congress MLA H.C. Balakrishna that the Chief Minister’s visit could create law and order issues, Kumaraswamy remarked that such concerns should not prevent direct engagement with the affected communities. He suggested that dialogue with farmers remained the most effective way to reach a solution.
Previous Experience Cited in Handling Similar Disputes
Recalling his tenure as Chief Minister between 2006 and 2007, Kumaraswamy said his government had invited hundreds of protesting farmers for multiple rounds of discussions before taking decisions on similar matters. He said those meetings were conducted patiently and focused on explaining the project’s objectives instead of imposing decisions.
He also claimed that records of previous Assembly debates showed Congress leaders had themselves expressed reservations about the Bidadi project in earlier years. Kumaraswamy urged the present government to review those discussions before proceeding further.
Legal Issues and Compensation Questions Raised
The Union Minister said the dispute would ultimately require legal resolution, arguing that the land acquisition process should strictly follow the provisions introduced under the 2013 land acquisition law. He alleged that the present government was not fully adhering to the safeguards provided under that legislation.
Kumaraswamy also questioned official claims regarding compensation paid to landowners. Referring to government figures, he said only a limited number of farmers had accepted compensation, mainly because agriculture had become financially difficult in certain villages. According to him, these isolated cases should not be interpreted as widespread support for the acquisition.
Bengaluru’s Growth Should Balance Development and Existing Challenges
Concluding his remarks, Kumaraswamy reiterated that he was not opposed to Bengaluru’s expansion but believed existing civic problems should receive priority before launching another large-scale township. He also dismissed allegations regarding the value of his wristwatch, stating that he was wearing an HMT watch featuring Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s image and challenged critics to verify the claim through an official investigation if they wished.