Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda on Tuesday, 14 July issued a stern warning to the Karnataka government, demanding the immediate scrapping of the Bidadi Township Project and the withdrawal of FIRs lodged against protesting farmers. Speaking at a press conference in Bengaluru, Gowda cautioned that if the government failed to act, he would launch a satyagraha in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue at Vidhana Soudha.

What Triggered the Outburst

Gowda's remarks came a day after violence erupted during the Joint Measurement Survey (JMC) in Mandalahalli village on Monday. He described the incident as unfortunate and accused the government of criminalising farmers rather than addressing their grievances. He noted that the survey had since been halted and welcomed the move, but insisted the government must go further and abandon the project entirely.

Farmers' Livelihoods at Stake

According to Gowda, the proposed township would adversely affect 2,555 small and marginal farmers who depend on agriculture and dairy farming. The region produces around 60,000 litres of milk every day, he said, with many farmers cultivating fodder for their cattle. He appealed to the government to recognise the scale of disruption the project would cause to these communities.

The Unanswered Letter

Gowda revealed that he had written to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on 25 June, outlining farmers' concerns and requesting a reconsideration of the project. Nearly 20 days later, he said, he had not received even an acknowledgement. He stressed that he wrote not as a politician but 'as the son of a farmer,' and appealed to Shivakumar — who also describes himself as a farmer's son — to read the letter and empathise with small cultivators.

Political Contradictions Laid Bare

Gowda trained his sharpest criticism on what he called a political reversal by the ruling Indian National Congress (INC). He alleged that the project was originally shelved during the tenure of his son H.D. Kumaraswamy after the Congress constituted a fact-finding committee and forced it to be dropped. The same Congress government, he said, had now revived the project after issuing a final notification. He also questioned why land acquisition was initiated barely a month after Shivakumar assumed office as Chief Minister, noting that his predecessor Siddaramaiah had not moved on the land during his tenure.

A Growing Political Flashpoint

The Bidadi Township Project has emerged as one of the most contentious political battles in Karnataka. The state government has defended it as a significant urban development initiative, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)), and a section of farmers have intensified their opposition, alleging that the project would strip thousands of cultivators of fertile agricultural land and their livelihoods. With Gowda now threatening direct agitation, pressure on the Shivakumar administration is set to mount further.