Bike rally by farmers opposing Bidadi Township project near Bengaluru in Karnataka
Farmers from districts around Bengaluru intensified their protest against the Bidadi Township Project by the government of Karnataka by undertaking a bike rally to Bidadi
Farmers from districts around Bengaluru intensified their protest against the Bidadi Township Project by the government of Karnataka by undertaking a bike rally to Bidadi, under the banner of ‘Bairamangala Chalo’ on June 22. Bike rally against Bidadi Township project Farmers from Tumakuru, Chickballapur, Kolar, Mandya, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, and Bengaluru South district, were among those who participated in the rally. The have been opposing the project citing loss of fertile land, threat to rural livelihoods, and lack of consent from affected villages. Among those who have extended supported to the agitation is Melukote MLA Darshan Puttannaiah.
The lone MLA of the Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha has extended support to the Congress government in Karnataka, but told The Hindu that he has extended support to the protest, and promised to participate in the rally scheduled on June 22. On June 16, Samyukta Horata Karnataka had decided to model the protest on the lines of the Channarayapatna farmers’ agitation. Yashavantha T., State General Secretary of the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (KPRS), told The Hindu that once the monsoon session begins, farmers’ groups will organise a ‘Vidhana Soudha Chalo’ protest against the project.
On June 21, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, president of the Janata Dal (Secular) youth wing, led a protest march through eight villages where land is slated for acquisition. Nikhil said former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda had written to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar urging him to drop the Bidadi Integrated Township project. “If the response is not satisfactory, Mr. Deve Gowda will launch a hunger strike,” he announced. Nikhil covered 11 km on foot, joined by hundreds of farmers amid slogans against the project. ‘Kodalla, Bidalla, Maaralla’ (We won’t give, we won’t leave, and we won’t sell) echoed across the villages during the march.
He covered Anchipura, Anchipura Colony, Bannigiri, Merwegowdanadoddi, Gunduthopu, Gollahalli, Kodipalya and Hosuru villages, stopping in every village to interact with farmers. The march marks the first major on-ground political protest against the project, even as the Greater Bengaluru Development Authority (GBDA) prepares to issue the final notification for the second batch of villages.
The BriefWire