Ramanagara, 13 June

Strongly opposing the Karnataka government's issuance of a final notification to acquire nearly 500 acres for the proposed GBIT near Bidadi in Bengaluru South district, farmers and villagers have called for a large-scale protest on June 22.

The protest will be held by local villagers, farmers, and farmers' organisations, including Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, to express strong opposition to land acquisition for the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township project.

A meeting was held here on Saturday, attended by farmer leaders and organisations, where they decided to oppose the government and support the farmers and villagers resisting the project.

The final notification has been issued for the acquisition of 499 acres across three villages in Ramanagara and Harohalli taluks for the GBIT, which is among Chief Minister Shivakumar's ambitious projects—projected as India's "first AI-powered integrated township", official sources said.

The project is expected to cover about 7,481 acres across nine villages in the region, sources said, adding that the notification issued on Thursday is likely to be the first in a series of land acquisition notifications to be issued in the days ahead.

"Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha has completely supported the fight that is going on for the land in Bidadi hobli. The government has now issued a notification for land acquisition in three villages; they are proceeding phase by phase. Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, along with other organisations, has decided to organise a large-scale protest on June 22," a farmer leader said.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said about 5,000 people were likely to take part in the protest.

"The farmers there have resolved that they will not give even an inch of their land at any cost. Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha stands in support of the farmers," he added.

Alleging a "real estate" conspiracy behind the land acquisition, the farmer leader said the land would not be given at any cost.

At a time when the people of these villages should have been celebrating the elevation of a leader from their district to the post of Chief Minister, Shivakumar has instead forced them to take to the streets in protest against him.

"Our fight will not fail for any reason; it will be successful, because the government's move is anti-people and nothing has been done keeping farmers' welfare in mind. If he is truly a farmer's son, he should not trouble farmers. The tears of farm women will haunt them. Such excesses are not good," he added.

Opposition BJP and JD(S) have also strongly objected to the government's decision to go ahead with the notification for land acquisition despite opposition from local villagers and farmers.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka said the Congress government had exposed its true face by issuing a final notification to acquire 499 acres of fertile agricultural land in the name of the Bidadi township project, ignoring the struggle, tears, and outrage of farmers who had been protesting for nearly 470 days.

"By running bulldozers over farmers' lands and attempting to build a real estate empire, 'Commission Minister' D K Shivakumar — you should be warned that the Congress government will be reduced to ashes in the flames of farmers' anger," he posted on X.

Ashoka said that once the BJP came to power in 2028, it would officially cancel the entire land acquisition process.

"We will definitely keep our promise to the farmers. What is the real secret behind this rushed attempt to acquire the land despite strong opposition from farmers? Isn't this driven by a real estate agenda meant to fill the pockets of your builder mafia?" he asked the CM.

Alleging that under Shivakumar's administration, 'CM' stood not for 'chief minister' but for 'commission minister' and 'corruption minister', the Leader of the Opposition said, "Any township built at the expense of farmers' livelihoods is not development; it is the graveyard of their future."

"This struggle is not just for 499 acres of land; it is a fight for farmers' rights, dignity, and livelihood. The government must immediately withdraw this land acquisition process. Otherwise, the Congress government will be reduced to ashes in the flames of farmers' anger," he added.

JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Friday challenged Shivakumar to personally visit the affected villages in the Bidadi region and determine whether the landowners whose properties had been notified for acquisition under the proposed township project agreed with the government's move.

Strongly condemning the Congress government's decision to issue the final land acquisition notification despite sustained opposition from local farmers, Kumaraswamy said a legal battle would be launched against what he termed an "anti-farmer move" and pledged to stand firmly with the affected farmers in their fight for justice.