BJP to hold protest on July 17 against Bidadi project
The BJP on Wednesday said it would stage a day-long sit-in protest on July 17 against the proposed GBIT project near Bidadi in Bengaluru South district.
The party also alleged that Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was “prioritising real estate over the interests of farmers.”
Addressing a press conference, BJP State chief BY Vijayendra said, “On July 17, BJP MLAs, MPs, former MLAs, and former MPs will stage a day-long sit-in protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru. We demand the withdrawal of cases against agitating farmers and the scrapping of the Bidadi Township project.”
Slamming the Congress Government in Karnataka as “anti-poor and anti-farmer,” Vijayendra alleged that Shivakumar had “put real estate interests ahead of farmers.”
He charged that while it took Shivakumar 24 months to repair the crest gates of the Tungabhadra Dam as irrigation minister, causing immense losses to farmers unable to grow a second crop, it took him just 24 hours as CM to order the formation of the AI-Powered Integrated Township at Bidadi.
He alleged that the Bidadi Township project was forcing farmers to lose fertile agricultural land, prompting them to protest.
He blamed the “anti-farmer” CM and the Congress Government for creating a situation that had driven “farmers and women... to protest holding brooms.”
Urging Shivakumar not to “play with the lives of farmers”, he demanded an immediate end to the Government’s “high-handedness” against farmers.
Vijayendra announced that the BJP and its ally JD(S) will jointly fight against the Government’s “anti-farmer” policies in the upcoming legislature session starting August 6.
Issues such as the Bidadi Township project, the problems of North Karnataka, and the plight of farmers in the Cauvery basin will be raised during the session, the BJP state chief said.
He alleged that the Government released water to Tamil Nadu at a time when Cauvery basin farmers were out on the streets, and there was a shortage of drinking water for cattle.
Vijayendra urged the Government to take a stand that protects the interests of the State’s farmers.
On the State’s drought-like conditions, the Shikaripura MLA said the CM had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagging the severe drought and had requested the Centre to depute a team of officials for an assessment.
“It is surprising that despite such a serious situation, the CM and ministers have not toured the affected districts. Unfortunately, the state does not even have a full-time agriculture minister during such a severe crisis like the current drought-like conditions,” Vijayendra charged.
He said that owing to insufficient rainfall in Ballari, Koppal, Vijayanagara, Raichur, Kalaburagi and Bidar districts, the sown crops had failed to germinate.
Vijayendra demanded that the Government “stop playing with the lives of farmers” and respond immediately to their distress, urging the State to announce compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre.
Despite opposition from sections of farmers and villagers, a final notification was recently issued for the acquisition of 499 acres across three villages in Ramanagara and Harohalli taluks for the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township, one of Shivakumar’s ambitious projects, projected as India’s “first AI-powered integrated township”.
It is expected to cover a total of 7,481 acres across nine villages in the region, with more notifications expected in the coming days.
