The ruling Indian National Congress in Karnataka on Tuesday, 14 July sharply escalated its offensive against Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, alleging that the violence during the Bidadi Township Project land survey was politically orchestrated to discredit Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Senior Congress figures also accused Kumaraswamy of adopting contradictory positions on environmental concerns depending on which project is under scrutiny.

Congress Blames Kumaraswamy for Mandalahalli Violence

Senior Congress MLA H.C. Balakrishna alleged that Kumaraswamy was directly responsible for Monday's violence in Mandalahalli village. 'Kumaraswamy is sponsoring buses and sending his workers there. The Prime Minister has not assigned him any work at the Centre. Instead of concentrating on his responsibilities as a Union Minister, he is focussing on Bidadi and provoking farmers. Perhaps, as the BJP has become irrelevant in Karnataka, they have sent Kumaraswamy here,' Balakrishna alleged, adding, 'We are ready for everything.'

Balakrishna further claimed that the Bidadi Township Project was originally conceived during Kumaraswamy's own tenure as Chief Minister. 'We are implementing Kumaraswamy's dream project. Today, he is opposing it only for political reasons. Everything happening in Bidadi is part of a Kumaraswamy-sponsored drama company. The objective is to create a crisis and bring disrepute to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar,' he alleged.

Survey Process and FIRs Defended

Defending the government's approach, Balakrishna clarified that officials were conducting the Joint Measurement Survey (JMC) only in areas where farmers had submitted consent letters. 'The final notification for the Bidadi Township Project has already been issued, and the chances of withdrawing it are very minimal. Without the JMC, farmers cannot receive compensation for their land,' he said.

On the FIRs registered against protesting farmers, Balakrishna justified the action, noting that cases are filed whenever government officials are assaulted. 'If government officials are attacked, FIRs will be registered against anyone, including you and me. Even as an MLA, an FIR was filed against me for scolding a government official. I had to fight that case in court for eight years,' he said.

Khandre Flags Environmental Double Standards

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Eshwar Khandre, also trained his sights on Kumaraswamy, alleging political motivation behind the unrest. 'The violence in Bidadi is politically motivated. Everyone knows who is behind it. Kumaraswamy says the township project will harm the environment, but when it comes to HMT forest land, he views it purely from a real estate perspective. Why this double standard? He must answer the people,' Khandre said.

Khandre also reiterated that Chief Minister Shivakumar had already confirmed the project was initiated during Kumaraswamy's own stint as Chief Minister — a point Congress leaders repeatedly invoked to undercut the opposition narrative.

Ground Tensions: Farmers Divided, Protests Intensify

On the ground, the situation remained volatile. A section of farmers opposing the project reportedly carried poison bottles and warned they would consume poison if officials returned to conduct the survey — a dramatic escalation of their demand that the project be scrapped entirely.

In a contrasting development, another group of farmers in Bhyramangala village staged a demonstration in support of the township project, blocking the Bidadi-Harohalli Road and demanding the government fast-track implementation. 'We have suffered for nearly 20 years due to the delay. The government should speed up the implementation of the township project,' the pro-project farmers said.

The administration is reportedly preparing to hold talks with farmers and resume the survey under enhanced police security. The Bidadi Township Project continues to sharply divide opinion — with the Congress framing it as a long-pending development initiative, and opposition groups and a section of farmers alleging that fertile agricultural land is being acquired against cultivators' wishes.