As the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) continue to strongly oppose the acquisition of farmland for the proposed Bidadi Integrated Township Project in Bengaluru South district, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday (June 20) said he was not prepared to “go to jail” by denotifying land that had been notified by H.D. Kumaraswamy, who was Chief Minister and is now a Union Minister.

Replying to a question on the controversial project while briefing reporters on Cabinet decisions, Mr. Shivakumar said, “I can’t denotify the land, and I am not ready to go to jail.”

‘Pitamaha’ of project

“Who is the Pitamaha of the project? Why did Mr. Kumaraswamy declare it a red zone?” asked the Chief Minister, adding, “We are not doing anything new. We are only continuing what Mr. Kumaraswamy notified and what B.S. Yediyurappa subsequently continued.”

Referring to the industrial township in Bidadi, the Chief Minister said land acquisition for the project had begun under previous governments. “Out of the proposed 9,000 acres, around 1,000 acres were acquired during the BJP government headed by Jagadish Shettar,” he noted.

Mr. Shivakumar challenged the Opposition to suggest alternative locations for industrial development and ways to acquire land for such projects. He accused BJP and JD(S) leaders of politicising the issue.

“I am not forcing any farmer to part with land. Farmers are cooperating, and nearly 80% of them are willing to give their land. We are offering compensation of ₹2.5 crore per acre,” he said, alleging that the Opposition was misleading farmers.

BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra and R. Ashoka, Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Council, speaking to farmers protesting the township project, near Bidadi on June 17.
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On June 17, BJP leaders visited the affected villages to express solidarity with farmers facing land acquisition and announced that the BJP-JD(S) alliance would scrap the township project if it comes to power in 2028.