Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday, 15 July launched a sharp attack on Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, accusing the state government of betraying farmers by issuing a fresh land acquisition notification for villages earmarked under the proposed Bidadi Township Project. Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Kumaraswamy alleged that the move exposed the government's 'vested interests' and contradicted its own public assurances.

The Core Allegation

Kumaraswamy described the notification as 'inhumane, cruel and morally indefensible', arguing that it was issued even as Chief Minister Shivakumar had publicly stated that no land would be acquired without farmer consent. 'On one hand, the Chief Minister says no land will be acquired forcibly and speaks about constituting a committee. On the other hand, his government quietly issues fresh notifications to acquire farmers' land,' the Union Minister said.

He also questioned the timing, alleging that certain individuals appeared to have advance knowledge of the notification. 'People were bursting crackers and distributing sweets even before the notification became public. The government must explain who celebrated and why,' he said.

The Committee Contradiction

Kumaraswamy pointed to what he called a fundamental contradiction: the state government had simultaneously announced a committee headed by a retired judge to examine the Bidadi project, while proceeding with the acquisition notification. He argued that the two actions could not be reconciled and demanded clarity on the government's actual intent.

Project History and Kumaraswamy's Own Role

The Union Minister sought to pre-empt any suggestion that he bore responsibility for the current controversy. He acknowledged that he had originally proposed satellite townships around Bengaluru in 2006 to ease developmental pressure on the city, but said he subsequently dropped the Bidadi component following sustained opposition from farmers and from the Indian National Congress (INC). 'I announced its cancellation both in the Assembly and during my Independence Day address,' he said. He rejected Chief Minister Shivakumar's assertion that the township proposal originated under his tenure.

Farmer Protests and Political Tone

Referring to ongoing agitations by farmers against the project, Kumaraswamy warned that the government's actions had deepened public anger. He took particular exception to remarks attributed to Shivakumar asking protesting farmers to 'beat him with a broom', calling such language 'unbecoming of a Chief Minister'. He also objected to the government allegedly branding agitating farmers as 'agents'. 'The farmers do not want this project. If nobody wants it, whose interests are being served?' he asked.

What Comes Next

Kumaraswamy stopped short of announcing a formal political or legal challenge but issued a pointed warning. 'Power is not permanent. The people of Karnataka are watching, and they will give their verdict at the appropriate time,' he said. The Karnataka government is yet to formally respond to the specific allegations raised at the press conference. With farmer protests continuing and the acquisition notification now in the public domain, pressure on the Shivakumar administration over the Bidadi Township Project is likely to intensify in the days ahead.