JDS Prepares Legal Challenge Against Bidadi Township Project in Bengaluru South
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has announced that the JDS will initiate a legal battle against the state government's Bidadi Township Project. The project faces strong resistance from thousands of farmers in Bengaluru South over land acquisition concerns.
Highlights
- •Approximately 4,500 farmers in Bengaluru South are opposing the Bidadi Township Project.
- •JDS leader H.D. Kumaraswamy is planning to challenge the land acquisition in the High Court.
- •The project covers 7,481 acres of land located between Bidadi and Harohalli.
- •Controversy persists over whether majority consent from local farmers has been obtained.
A significant Bidadi Township Project is currently facing a potential legal confrontation as local farmers express strong opposition to the land acquisition process. In the Bengaluru South district, approximately 4,500 farmers have raised objections regarding the proposed development, with estimates suggesting that nearly 90 percent of the local farming community is against the current government initiative.
H.D. Kumaraswamy, the Union Minister of Large Scale Industries and president of the Janata Dal Secular (JDS), recently addressed the issue during a press conference held in Bengaluru. He emphasized the party’s dedication to protecting the rights of the farmers whose land is slated for acquisition. According to the Minister, preparations are underway to challenge the project in the High Court, as the government continues to move forward with plans to acquire 7,481 acres of land situated between Bidadi and Harohalli.
Background and Controversies of the Bidadi Township Project
The Bidadi Township Project has a complex history rooted in political shifts. H.D. Kumaraswamy noted that the initiative was originally launched during his tenure as Chief Minister in 2007, under the JDS-BJP alliance. He explained that this was a period when the central government, led by the UPA under then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urged states to pursue Special Economic Zones and township developments. At that time, proposals were drafted for various locations, including Hosakote, Devanahalli, Magadi, Sathanur, and Ramanagara.
During the press briefing, the Union Minister reflected on the shifting political landscape, pointing out that several prominent leaders who now support the project, including Siddaramaiah, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, were once its most vocal opponents. He stressed that he had previously provided assurances on the floor of the Assembly that no development work would proceed without the explicit consent of the affected farmers.
Currently, the administration is pushing for the project's implementation, a move described by H.D. Kumaraswamy as being carried out illegally. He dismissed official government claims that only 11 percent of local farmers oppose the township development, labeling those figures as mere assumptions. As tensions escalate, the farming community and the JDS leadership are preparing to seek judicial intervention to halt the government's aggressive acquisition efforts in Bengaluru South.
