Bengaluru, 17 July

The State BJP unit on Friday held a massive protest at the City’s Freedom Park against the Congress government's move to acquire farmers' land for the proposed GBIT project near Bidadi.

The protest was led by veteran leader and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa, his son and State President BY Vijayendra, LoPs R Ashoka and Chalavadhi Narayanaswamy and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje among others. They announced a 'Padayatre' (march) from Bidadi to Bengaluru soon. They added that the party would also fight against the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) in the Assembly. 

Some farmers from villages around Bidadi, who have been protesting the planned acquisition of their fertile agricultural land for the project, also joined the protest.

The government has recently issued two sets of final notifications for land acquisition for the project that aims to develop India's "first AI-powered integrated township” and build data centres. The government seeks to acquire 9,600 acres spread across nine revenue villages and 16 non-revenue villages.

Yediyurappa accused the Shivakumar-led government "intoxicated by power," of betraying farmers, and said, “When one's destruction is near, their intellect works against their own best interests. This government has become a Tughlaq Darbar, under the influence of a brute majority.

He said that the BJP and JD(S) would work together to put a final nail in the Congress’ coffin and questioned why the government was pushing ahead with the project despite the drought-like situation in many parts of the State. 

Ashoka dubbed the government a “disaster” for farmers, and rejected the charge that the BJP and JD(S) initiated the project. "In fact, the first and second acquisition notices were issued in 2024 when Siddaramaiah was CM, and Shivakumar is now taking it ahead."

Shivakumar has argued that the BJP-JD(S) government notified the land and that farmers had already consented to compensation, and hence he was legally obligated to push the project forward.