JD(S), BJP Begin Joint March Against Land Acquisition for GBIT Project

Bengaluru: The JD(S), backed by its alliance partner BJP, began its three-day padayatre (foot march) on Sunday in opposition to the acquisition of farmers' land for the proposed GBIT project near Bidadi here.

The march, from Byramangala near Bidadi to Freedom Park in Bengaluru, is being led by JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy and joined by leaders, workers and supporters of both parties. It is expected to cover about 38 km, according to party sources.

JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy flagged off the march at Byramangala along with Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka and others.

The protesters raised slogans such as "Namma Bhoomi, Namma Hakku" (Our land, our right), accusing the government of promoting real estate interests and seeking commissions while trying to suppress farmers by filing false cases against them.

Earlier, both the BJP and JD(S) had announced separate protest marches from Bidadi to Bengaluru opposing the proposed project.

However, leaders of the two alliance parties met recently and decided to jointly protest the land acquisition, both inside and outside the Legislature. The monsoon session of the Karnataka Legislature will begin on August 13.

The government has constituted a high-level committee headed by retired High Court judge Justice Guhanathan Narendar to review the varying opinions and feedback on the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township project.

The four-member panel also comprises retired Chief Secretary S V Ranganath, retired Additional Chief Secretary S Umashankar and retired IAS officer Prasanna Kumar.

The committee has been tasked with submitting its report within 30 days.

Chief Minister D K Shivakumar assured farmers last month that their land would not be forcibly acquired for the proposed project.

He said those unwilling to part with their land would be free to continue farming.

Asserting that the government would not compel any farmer to surrender land, he said a committee would be formed to review the project and that further decisions would be based on its recommendations.

Earlier, on June 21, JD(S), under the leadership of Nikhil Kumaraswamy and senior party leaders, held an 11-km protest march from Kanchagaranahalli to Hosur Village near Bidadi, opposing the government's move to acquire fertile agricultural land.

The government has issued two sets of final notifications for the acquisition of more than 5,400 acres across seven villages for the GBIT project, which has been projected as India's "first AI-powered integrated township".

According to sources, the Bidadi project requires 9,600 acres of land spread across 25 villages.

The state government had issued a preliminary notification in March last year for the acquisition of 7,481 acres across nine villages in the region, with more notifications expected in the coming days.

Farmers have continued to stage protests in the area against the project.