DK Shivakumar Revived Bidadi Township Project, Claims G Parameshwar; JDS and BJP Allege 'Land Grabbing'
The project currently needs about 7, 418 acres in the vicinity of Bidadi and Harohalli in Bengaluru South district to which D.K. Shivakumar belongs. Shivakumar represents Kanakapura Assembly seat in Bengaluru South.
BENGALURU: “It was D.K. Shivakumar, then as Deputy Chief Minister, got the Bidadi Township project approved from the previous Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at a cabinet meeting (which otherwise was in dormant state for about 19 years),” disclosed Deputy Chief Minister Dr G. Parameshwar in Bengaluru on Saturday.
He told reporters the project was envisaged by Janata Dal Secular (JDS) State president and incumbent H.D. Kumaraswamy when he served as the Chief Minister in JDS-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government in 2006-07.
However, Kumaraswamy dropped the implementation of Bidadi Township project before D.K. Shivakumar pursued the Bidadi Township project to implement the project in a systematic manner and was approved by previous Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (2023-26).
The project currently needs about 7, 418 acres in the vicinity of Bidadi and Harohalli in Bengaluru South district to which D.K. Shivakumar belongs. Shivakumar represents Kanakapura Assembly seat in Bengaluru South. Parameshwar attributed the Bidadi Township project is for development and stated the words of the Chief Minister is clear that none of the farmers would be forced to give up their lands for the proposed project.
Reacting to the statement of Deputy Chief Minister on Bidadi Township project, Janata Dal Secular, Karnataka unit alleged “The ruling Congress government is taking to land grabbing in the name of development.”
Leader of Opposition in Assembly and Bharatiya Janata Party MLA R. Ashok accused D.K. Shivakumar of initiating real estate dealings immediately after ascending the post of Chief Minister and termed the Bidadi Township project is being used to amass funds for elections in other States.
A section of the farmers in Bidadi region have vehemently opposed the Bidadi Township project and refused to part with their lands. The farmers have been staging a marathon protest for 495 days to express their opposition to the project and a couple of days tension prevailed at Madalahalli when survey officials had to face the wrath of farmers and were driven out. Survey officials were beaten with broom sticks by protesting women.
