Former PM Deve Gowda Participates in March Against Bidadi Project
Supported by alliance partner BJP, the march from Byramangala near Bidadi to Freedom Park in Bengaluru city, led by JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy -- Gowda's grandson, is on its second day on Monday
Bengaluru: JD(S) chief and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Monday participated in the party's padayatre (foot march), opposing the acquisition of farmers' land for the proposed GBIT project near Bidadi in Bengaluru South district.
Supported by alliance partner BJP, the march from Byramangala near Bidadi to Freedom Park in Bengaluru city, led by JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy -- Gowda's grandson, is on its second day on Monday.
The three-day march was flagged off by JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy at Byramangala on Sunday, along with Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka. It is expected to cover a total distance of about 38 km, according to party sources.
The 93-year-old Gowda participated as the second day of the march began at BGS circle in Bidadi.
The protesters raised slogans such as "Namma Bhoomi, Namma Hakku" (Our land, our right), accusing the government of promoting real estate interests and trying to suppress farmers by filing false cases against them.
Amid protests by farmers and locals, the government has constituted a high-level committee headed by retired High Court Judge Justice Guhanathan Narendar to review the varying opinions and feedback regarding the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township project.
Earlier, despite opposition from farmers and local people, the government has issued two sets of final notifications for the acquisition of over 5,400 acres of land spread across seven villages for the GBIT project, which is projected as India's "first AI-powered integrated township".
According to sources, the Bidadi project requires acquiring 9,600 acres spread across nine revenue villages and 16 non-revenue villages.
The state government had issued a preliminary notification in March last year to acquire a total of 7,481 acres across nine villages in the region, for the proposed project, and more notifications are expected in the coming days.
