Former PM Questioned CM’S Rationale To Revive Bidadi Project
Bidadi Township project was envisaged by Janata Dal Secular and Bharatiya Janata Party alliance government in 2006-07.
BENGALURU: Janata Dal Secular (JDS) national president and former Prime Minister H.D. Devegowda on Monday questioned the rationale of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in reviving the Bidadi Township project immediately after becoming the Chief Minister (June) while he kept quiet for 3-years serving as Deputy Chief Minister.
Devegowda accused Shivakumar of “fulfilling his promise made to the central Congress leaders” prior to his elevation as Chief Minister and the 93-year-old veteran politician asserted “His fight against the Bidadi project will continue and stand by farmers.”
Bidadi Township project was envisaged by Janata Dal Secular and Bharatiya Janata Party alliance government in 2006-07. After it met with opposition from Bidadi farmers, the project was in dormant stage for years before the incumbent Congress government revived it in the last couple of years. The project, according to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, would be the second Central Business District of Bengaluru.
Addressing the protesters during a padayatra from Byramangala, one of the villages to be affected by the Bidadi project, to Freedom Park in Bengaluru, Devegowda stated “There is no question of going back against the Bidadi project.” He appealed to the ruling Congress party to drop the project and not to get tagged as anti-farmer.”
He alleged the ruling Congress party mounted pressure on police to act against the protesters going in the padayatra and stated “I will go to Bengaluru. On August 18, a meeting will be held at Freedom Park where I will reveal all details on the Bidadi project.”
Devegowda posed a question to Shivakumar “To whom you are implementing the project?” and stated “It is not correct to trouble people and bring them on to the streets.”
Reacting to Devegowda addressing the protesters during the Bharatiya Janata Party backed JDS led padayatra, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated “Gowda is participated in the protest for the future of his boys (oblique reference to Nikhil Kumaraswamy, grandson of Devegowda).” He alleged none of the Bidadi vicinity participated in the padayatra but people have been ferried from other districts. He, however, stated “Let them protest in a democratic ste-up.”
