Karnataka Police's removal of a Ganesh idol during an operation to clear a road blockade at a farmers' protest near Bidadi has ignited a sharp political row, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the Congress government of trampling both agrarian grievances and Hindu religious sentiments. The incident, which took place on Friday, 26 September 2026, has since gone viral across social media platforms.

What Happened at the Protest Site

Farmers opposed to the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township project had been staging an indefinite hunger strike near Bairamangala since 21 September, installing a Ganesh idol at the protest venue where daily prayers were being offered. Authorities moved in on Friday to clear the Bidadi-Harohalli main road, which had been blocked by protesters using tractors, bullock carts, and other vehicles.

As part of the operation to restore traffic movement, police personnel lifted and removed the idol and cleared remaining obstructions from the site. Several protesters, including women farmers, were reportedly detained during the exercise. Videos of police lifting the idol circulated widely online, amplifying the controversy.

BJP's Sharpest Attacks

Reacting on Saturday, senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka condemned the action in unambiguous terms. 'Removing the Ganesh idol installed at the place where farmers are staging a satyagraha for their legitimate demands is an act that hurts the sentiments of farmers and Hindu religious practices,' Ashoka said.

He further alleged that the administration led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had found time to clear the idol but had failed to address the underlying grievances of the protesting farmers. 'The government should not evade the farmers' problems. It should immediately listen to the demands of the Bidadi farmers and provide justice,' he added, asserting that neither the farmers' movement nor their religious devotion could be suppressed.

The Township Project at the Centre of the Dispute

The protest is rooted in farmer opposition to land acquisition planned under the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township project — a large-scale urban development initiative that critics say threatens agricultural livelihoods in the region. Farmers have been demanding that the government engage directly with their concerns before any acquisition proceeds.

This comes amid a broader pattern of agrarian unrest in Karnataka over infrastructure-linked land acquisition, where affected communities have increasingly combined religious symbolism with protest to strengthen moral visibility. Notably, the Bidadi case is not the first time such a demonstration has drawn in a Ganesh idol as a focal point of dissent.

A Pattern That Echoes an Earlier Controversy

The incident has revived memories of a previous episode during the tenure of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, when the seizure of a Ganesh idol by police and its placement inside a police vehicle drew widespread criticism after images and videos circulated online. Critics argue that the recurrence of such incidents reflects a persistent gap in how the state handles religiously charged protest settings.

What Happens Next

The BJP has called on the Shivakumar government to immediately open dialogue with the Bidadi farmers and address concerns related to land acquisition for the township project. The Congress administration has not yet issued a formal response to the BJP's charges. With the controversy now drawing statewide attention, the political pressure on the government to engage the protesters is likely to mount in the coming days.