Former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda on Saturday, 16 May publicly called on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to order a formal inquiry into the Bidadi Township controversy, alleging that fertile farmland around Bengaluru was being seized for private business interests at the expense of small farmers and dairy workers.

Key Developments

Addressing a press conference at the Janata Dal (Secular) state office, JP Bhavan, in Bengaluru, Deve Gowda said he had already written to the Chief Minister demanding an investigation into whose names approximately 20,000 acres of land around Bengaluru had been registered. 'Siddaramaiah, you have worked with me, and I know your commitment to social justice. I have already written a letter asking for an inquiry into whose names around 20,000 acres of land around Bengaluru are registered in,' he said.

Deve Gowda declared that his formal agitation against the project had begun from that day. 'From today, my struggle has begun,' he announced, adding that he would challenge irregularities wherever they existed, including within the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA).

Farmers' Grievances at the Centre

Deve Gowda stressed that the Bidadi region is a significant agricultural belt, with farmers heavily engaged in dairy farming and horticulture, supplying large volumes of milk to dairies daily. He questioned whether any official had visited the area to hear farmers' concerns. 'Farmers in Bidadi are in tears,' he said, urging Siddaramaiah not to bow to pressure and 'do injustice to common people.'

He also recalled that Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy had previously implemented an irrigation project worth ₹250 crore benefiting the region, and that Kumaraswamy had subsequently halted the township project in response to public opposition. Deve Gowda argued that the current government should follow suit.

Veiled Attack on Deputy CM Shivakumar

Without naming Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar directly, Deve Gowda made pointed references to a single individual simultaneously handling Bengaluru's civic affairs, irrigation responsibilities, and national party duties. He also claimed to hold information about the scale of land allegedly acquired in Kanakapura — Shivakumar's native constituency.

'It seems there is some agreement for becoming Chief Minister. They are entertaining all of you. Meanwhile, farmers in Bidadi are wiping away tears,' he said, in what observers read as a thinly veiled reference to reported succession dynamics within the ruling Indian National Congress (INC) in Karnataka.

Deve Gowda's Challenge to Siddaramaiah

Deve Gowda extended a direct invitation to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to jointly visit the Bidadi region. 'I will come, you also come. Let us visit the spot together. Till now, local MLAs, tahsildars, and deputy commissioners have not listened to the grievances of the people. A scam is happening here. Farmers' lands are being taken away for business interests,' he said.

He warned that forces attempting to acquire poor people's lands around Bengaluru must be checked, and said his party would pursue the issue politically. With assembly-level pressure mounting and the JDS signalling a sustained campaign, the Bidadi controversy is set to intensify in the coming weeks.