Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Wednesday, 18 June visited Bidadi in Ramanagara district to express solidarity with farmers opposing the proposed Bidadi Township project, accusing the state's Congress government of pursuing an 'anti-farmer' agenda and allegedly intimidating landowners into compliance.

BJP Leaders Allege Threats to Farmers

State BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra alleged that some farmers had complained of threats from 'goons' linked to the project's proponents, and demanded that the state government refrain from intimidating landowners. He asserted that the BJP would continue to stand with farmers and oppose any compulsory land acquisition.

Vijayendra also rejected Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved the township project, alleging that the state government was misleading the public on the matter. He said BJP leaders had visited several villages in the region and interacted directly with farming communities to assess ground conditions.

Fertile Land, Not Barren — BJP Counters Government Narrative

The state government has maintained that 80 per cent of landowners had consented to acquisition and that the land in question is barren. BJP leaders categorically rejected both claims.

Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, veteran BJP leader R. Ashoka, said party leaders had found active cultivation across the project area, with farmers growing crops including coconut, arecanut, mango, sapota, and mulberry. He alleged that the government had deliberately described the land as barren to justify acquisition.

Ashoka further noted that the area produces nearly six lakh litres of milk every month and supports significant dairy farming activity, with thousands of families depending on this land for their livelihoods. 'The Congress government should abandon the township project and allow farmers to continue their livelihoods,' he said.

Opposition Accuses Shivakumar of Double Standards

Ashoka accused Chief Minister Shivakumar of applying a double standard on land acquisition issues, pointing out that previous Chief Ministers — including H.D. Kumaraswamy and B.S. Yediyurappa — had not pursued the Bidadi Township project. He questioned why thousands of farming families should be displaced for a project that, he alleged, no one in the region had demanded.

Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, echoed these concerns, saying: 'Only those who cultivate land can understand the pain and struggles of farmers. Looking at the farmers here, one can see how hard they work.'

Alternative Sites Proposed, Displacement Fears Raised

Narayanaswamy argued that not even half an acre of uncultivated land exists in the project zone and warned of long-term consequences for displaced farmers. 'Compensation money may help them buy vehicles, but once the money is exhausted, they may end up working as security guards in factories built on the land they once owned,' he said.

As an alternative, he suggested the state government could develop the proposed township on barren land available in regions such as Chikkaballapur and Devanahalli, where displacement of productive agricultural communities would not be a concern.

What Happens Next

The BJP has signalled it will sustain pressure through continued visits to affected villages and public mobilisation alongside agitating farmers. The Congress government has yet to formally respond to the BJP's counter-claims or the suggestion of alternative sites. With farmer protests in Bidadi continuing for several days, the dispute is likely to intensify as the state government moves forward — or faces mounting opposition to — the acquisition process.