Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Deve Gowda Joins JD(S) March Against Bidadi Land Acquisition
In a part of India called Karnataka, some farmers are worried about losing their farmland.
The government wants to take their land to build a big new township called the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township.
It is supposed to be a very smart city that uses artificial intelligence.
The farmers do not want to lose the land their families depend on.
So they are walking in a big group protest called a padayatre to show how they feel.
A famous former Prime Minister named Deve Gowda, who is 93 years old, joined the walk to support them.
The government says it wants to improve the area and has set up a special committee to hear different opinions.
The walk lasts three days and covers about 38 kilometers, from one place to another.
Everyone hopes the two sides can find a fair answer for the farmers.
Former Prime Minister and JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda, 93, joined the second day of a three-day padayatre opposing land acquisition for the GBIT project near Bidadi.
The BJP-supported march, led by JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy, covers about 38 km from Byramangala to Freedom Park in Bengaluru and was flagged off by H D Kumaraswamy and R Ashoka.
Protesters raised slogans like 'Namma Bhoomi, Namma Hakku' (Our land, our right), accusing the government of promoting real estate interests and filing false cases against farmers.
The government has issued two final notifications to acquire over 5,400 acres across seven villages for GBIT, billed as India's 'first AI-powered integrated township'.
The government has constituted a high-level committee headed by retired High Court judge Justice Guhanathan Narendar to review opinions and feedback on the project.
- Who
- Former Prime Minister and JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda, 93, along with JD(S) leaders Nikhil Kumaraswamy and H D Kumaraswamy, BJP's R Ashoka and protesting farmers; opposed by the Karnataka government led by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
- What
- A three-day padayatre (foot march) opposing the acquisition of farmers' agricultural land for the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) project near Bidadi.
- When
- Second day of the three-day march on Monday; it was flagged off the previous Sunday.
- Where
- From Byramangala near Bidadi to Freedom Park in Bengaluru city, in Bengaluru South district, Karnataka.
- Why
- To oppose the government's acquisition of farmers' land for the GBIT project, which protesters say promotes real estate interests and suppresses farmers through false cases.
Protesting Farmers and JD(S)-BJP Alliance
Karnataka Government and CM D K Shivakumar
Land Acquisition for GBIT
Protesting Farmers and JD(S)-BJP Alliance
Farmers and the JD(S)-BJP alliance say acquiring farmers' land for GBIT promotes real estate interests and destroys the livelihood of farming communities.
Karnataka Government and CM D K Shivakumar
The government says the land is needed for the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township, billed as India's 'first AI-powered integrated township', and has already issued two final notifications for over 5,400 acres.
Treatment of Farmers
Protesting Farmers and JD(S)-BJP Alliance
Protesters accuse the government of trying to suppress farmers by filing false cases against them, with Deve Gowda saying the government is 'speaking lies' to destroy farmers' livelihoods.
Karnataka Government and CM D K Shivakumar
The government has constituted a high-level committee headed by retired High Court judge Justice Guhanathan Narendar to review the differing opinions and feedback on the project.
Political Motives
Protesting Farmers and JD(S)-BJP Alliance
Deve Gowda denies allegations that he and his family cannot accept another Vokkaliga as chief minister, saying they would support any CM who does good work, and asks 'for whose sake' the project is being done.
Karnataka Government and CM D K Shivakumar
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar says he is only continuing the GBIT project that H D Kumaraswamy initiated when he was CM in 2006.
- Event
- Three-day padayatre (foot march) against GBIT land acquisition near Bidadi
- Protest Route
- Byramangala near Bidadi to Freedom Park, Bengaluru (~38 km)
- Project
- Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT), billed as India's 'first AI-powered integrated township'
- Land Notified
- Over 5,400 acres across seven villages (two final notifications)
- Total Land Requirement
- 9,600 acres across nine revenue villages and 16 non-revenue villages (per sources)
- Preliminary Notification
- 7,481 acres across nine villages, issued in March last year
- Review Committee
- High-level committee headed by retired High Court judge Justice Guhanathan Narendar
- March Leaders
- Led by Nikhil Kumaraswamy; flagged off by H D Kumaraswamy and R Ashoka
