Archive · 10 Aug 2026
HDK slams Karnataka government over Bidadi township, backs farmers
In a village in Karnataka, India, a leader named H D Kumaraswamy spoke up for farmers.
The Karnataka government wants to build a big township project in Bidadi.
Farmers are worried they might lose their land, so they have been protesting for 515 days.
Kumaraswamy started a march, called a padayatra, along with the BJP and JDS parties to support them.
He asked why the government changed the money offered to farmers from Rs 2 crore to Rs 3 crore per acre.
He also said the new project plan is different from the one made in 2006.
Kumaraswamy told farmers that police force should not be used to take their land.
He asked the Chief Minister, D K Shivakumar, about government land in the project area.
He told the farmers to stay united because the march is for their interests, not for politics.
Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy launched a joint BJP-JDS padayatra at Bairamanga village against the proposed Bidadi Township project.
He accused the Karnataka government of ignoring farmers and questioned whether the project aims to 'send money to Delhi'.
Farmers have been protesting the township project for the past 515 days, despite alleged pressure and threats.
Kumaraswamy rejected Congress allegations that the JDS was responsible for the township proposal.
He alleged attempts to acquire farmers' land using police force and questioned compensation now raised from Rs 2 crore to Rs 3 crore per acre.
- Who
- Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, along with BJP and JDS leaders such as R. Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, and farmers protesting the Bidadi Township project.
- What
- Launch of a padayatra against the proposed Bidadi Township project and Kumaraswamy's criticism of the Karnataka government's handling of farmer land and compensation.
- When
- Sunday (specific date not given in the article), 515 days after farmers began protesting the project.
- Where
- Bairamanga village, Ramanagara district, Karnataka.
- Why
- Farmers oppose the township project over concerns about land acquisition and compensation; Kumaraswamy says the agitation supports farmer interests and questions the government's changed proposal and compensation.
BJP-JDS alliance and protesting farmers
Congress-led Karnataka government
Responsibility for the township proposal
BJP-JDS alliance and protesting farmers
JDS is not responsible; Kumaraswamy said the decision taken when the project was conceived in 2006 differs from the present proposal, and neither his government nor the subsequent BJP government issued preliminary or final acquisition notifications.
Congress-led Karnataka government
According to the article, Congress has alleged that the JDS was responsible for the township proposal.
Land compensation and acquisition
BJP-JDS alliance and protesting farmers
Kumaraswamy questioned why compensation was changed from Rs 2 crore to Rs 3 crore per acre, calling it business-like, and alleged attempts to acquire farmers' land using police force.
Congress-led Karnataka government
The government has raised the compensation offer to Rs 3 crore per acre and appointed a committee to examine the township proposal.
- Key figure
- H D Kumaraswamy (Union Minister)
- Target of criticism
- Karnataka government and Chief Minister D K Shivakumar
- Event
- Joint BJP-JDS padayatra against the Bidadi Township project
- Protest duration
- 515 days
- Compensation offer
- Rs 2 crore raised to Rs 3 crore per acre
- Government land in area (claimed)
- About 2,600 acres (as of 2006)
- Location
- Bairamanga village, Ramanagara, Karnataka
- Project
- Bidadi Township project, originally conceived in 2006