Bengaluru: Opposition to the proposed Bidadi township project intensified Wednesday, with farmers seeking the intervention of Lok Sabha opposition leader and Congress functionary Rahul Gandhi, even while BJP and JD(S) stepped up pressure on the state govt over the ongoing land acquisition process.More than 100 farmers from the region launched a letter campaign to Rahul, urging him to intervene and halt acquisitions. They said land was being acquired without adequate consultation and would affect hundreds of farming families.Principal opposition party BJP joined protests for the first time. A delegation led by party state president BY Vijayendra visited villages near Bidadi and met farmers. They demanded that the govt withdraw the proposal. Vijayendra accused the govt of creating a “false impression” that most owners had agreed to part with their land.He said farmers had told the BJP delegation that they were determined to protect their land and that some had even complained of threats and intimidation. He urged the govt not to “use goons” to pressure farmers, and accused it of favouring real-estate interests over cultivators.Vijayendra also took exception to chief minister DK Shivakumar’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved the project. “Dragging the PM’s name into the controversy was inappropriate,” he said, adding that Modi had never supported policies detrimental to farmers.He added: “If the govt is keen, it should promote industries in North Karnataka and generate jobs there. We will not allow fertile agricultural land to be acquired anywhere in the state.”Opposition leader R Ashoka claimed the land identified for acquisition supported dairy farming, agriculture, and sericulture and disputed the govt’s contention that it was barren. “The township project would displace families that had depended on farming for generations,” Ashoka said, urging the govt to withdraw the proposal.Opposition leader in the legislative council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said the party would stand firmly with the protesting farmers.Meanwhile, Union minister HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S) accused Shivakumar of orchestrating a poster campaign against him and his family to divert attention from the farmers’ agitation. The posters, which appeared in places in and around Bidadi, alleged that Kumaraswamy, his wife Anita and son Nikhil owned agricultural land within the proposed township limits and were opposing the project for personal reasons.Rejecting the allegations, Kumaraswamy said he owned only 46 acres purchased nearly four decades ago, and challenged critics to prove claims that he possessed 100 acres. He added that Anita had legally acquired 36 acres.Accusing Shivakumar of targeting political opponents through public campaigns, Kumaraswamy said, “He should show respect for the office he holds instead of resorting to cheap political gimmicks.”
