Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Shivakumar terms JD(S) Bidadi padayatra fight for political survival
Imagine a big group of people walking for many kilometers to show they are upset.
In the Indian state of Karnataka, a party called JD(S) is walking from Bidadi to Bengaluru.
They do not want the government to take farmers' land for a new 'AI city.'
The government says the city will have roads, a metro, sports grounds, houses and parks, and will give jobs to young people.
It says farmers will get a lot of money — between 2.5 and 3.5 crore rupees per acre — or half the developed land instead.
But the walking party says the government is destroying farmers' livelihoods.
The leader of the state, Mr. Shivakumar, says the walkers are not really farmers but party workers brought from other places.
He says the other party started this project in 2006, when it was in charge.
Two big political groups are arguing about who is right.
A former judge will help review what people think about the project.
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the JD(S) padayatra against land acquisition for the GBIT project is a fight for the party's 'political survival'.
The three-day JD(S) march from Byramangala near Bidadi to Freedom Park in Bengaluru, led by youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy, entered its second day on Monday.
The government has issued final notifications to acquire over 5,400 acres across seven villages for the GBIT project, projected as India's 'first AI-powered integrated township'.
Shivakumar said the project was initiated by Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister in 2006, and that the current government offers Rs 2.5 to 3.5 crore per acre compensation versus the earlier Rs 25 lakh per acre.
JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda joined the march, asserting the party would not back off if the government continued efforts to destroy farmers' livelihoods.
Shivakumar dismissed JD(S) claims of 20,000 vacant BDA sites in Bengaluru as 'not possible'.
- Who
- Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy.
- What
- A JD(S) padayatra (foot march) protesting the acquisition of agricultural land for the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) project in Bengaluru South district.
- When
- Monday, August 10 — the second day of the three-day march.
- Where
- From Byramangala near Bidadi to Freedom Park in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Why
- To oppose the acquisition of farmland for the project, which JD(S) says destroys farmers' livelihoods; the government says it is continuing a project the JD(S) itself initiated in 2006.
Karnataka Government (Congress)
JD(S)-BJP Alliance
Who is marching
Karnataka Government (Congress)
There are no farmers in the protest; JD(S) has brought workers from other constituencies and is doing the yatre as a fight for 'political survival'.
JD(S)-BJP Alliance
Farmers and locals are protesting against the government's efforts to destroy farmers' livelihoods, and the party will not back off.
Project history and compensation
Karnataka Government (Congress)
The government is only continuing the project JD(S) started in 2006 with Rs 25 lakh per acre planned, while the current government offers Rs 2.5-3.5 crore per acre or 50% developed sites.
JD(S)-BJP Alliance
The government's continued land acquisition efforts are hurting farmers despite the party's stand against them.
Vacant BDA sites in Bengaluru
Karnataka Government (Congress)
The claim that 20,000 sites under the BDA are lying vacant in Bengaluru is not possible; 'we are completely getting it done.'
JD(S)-BJP Alliance
JD(S) leaders claim that 20,000 sites under the Bengaluru Development Authority are lying vacant in Bengaluru.
- Project
- Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) — projected as India's 'first AI-powered integrated township'
- Total land required
- 9,600 acres across nine revenue villages and 16 non-revenue villages
- Final notifications
- Acquisition of over 5,400 acres across seven villages
- Preliminary notification
- Issued in March last year for 7,481 acres across nine villages
- Compensation offered
- Rs 2.5 to 3.5 crore per acre (or 50% developed sites), versus the earlier Rs 25 lakh per acre
- Padayatra
- Three-day march of about 38 km, from Byramangala to Freedom Park, led by Nikhil Kumaraswamy
- Review committee
- High-level committee headed by retired High Court Judge Justice Guhanathan Narendar
- Project initiator
- Initiated by H D Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister in 2006