Bengaluru/New Delhi, 5 Aug

JD(S) State Youth President Nikhil Kumaraswamy announced that his party would lead a massive padayatra from Bhairamangala to Freedom Park against the proposed Bidadi Township project on 9, 10 and 11 August.

He alleged that “This real estate scam that is going to snatch 7,480 acres of agricultural land from poor farmers, sell it to builders and loot more than Rs 33,000 crore.”

The Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) aims to create India’s first AI-powered City in Bidadi.

“Notices have been issued to cut 10  lakh green  trees and destroy 6 lakh litres of milk production. Land from more than 80 per of small farmers is being snatched away and they are pushed onto the streets,” Nikhil said.

His father and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy also issued a video message, calling on people to join the padayatra. Kumaraswamy later met with BJP leaders Basavaraj Bommai, R Ashoka and PC Mohan. The BJP had announced a separate padayatra, and they likely discussed whether the two could be combined.