Bengaluru, 20 June

A day ahead of the JD(S)’ proposed padayatra against the Bidadi township, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar accused Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy and the BJP of politicising the issue. Shivakumar called Kumaraswamy the “architect” of the initiative, noting that the project was notified during the latter’s tenure as chief minister.

On Sunday, JD(S) leaders, led by Nikhil Kumaraswamy, will begin a padayatra from Anjipur at 9.00am and visit affected villages, including Anjipur Colony, Bannigiri, Marevegoudanadoddi, Gundutoopu, Gollahalli, Kodipalya and then conclude at Hosur.

The Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township is seen among Shivakumar's ambitious projects,  presented as India's first AI-powered integrated township. It is expected to cover about 7,481 acres across nine villages in the region, according to official sources. However, farmers have been protesting against the mass land acquisition for over 450 days, and are now receiving the support of the Opposition parties.

"Kumaraswamy issued the notification. BS Yediyurappa (BJP) continued the project. We are only taking it forward. We’re not doing anything new," Shivakumar said. "Kumaraswamy himself had said that farmers would be given 40 per cent of the developed land as compensation. We have said that we will give 50 per cent of the developed land. The process of providing compensation of Rs 2.50 crore per acre to farmers began on Friday”.

Kumaraswamy, however, said he would release files on the statements Shivakumar made about the project earlier, and added that he dropped the proposal in the Assembly amid opposition from farmers then. He warned of a “bloody revolution” if the Congress didn’t drop the project.

Shivakumar hit back: He is the Union Minister for Heavy Industries. He wants industries to come. He himself must answer where, how and on whose land the industries should be set up."