Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday, 13 July issued a sharp warning to the Karnataka government and its police force against what he described as the 'misuse' of law enforcement to crush the ongoing agitation against the proposed Bidadi Township project. His remarks came as government officials faced fierce resistance from farmers and women protesters during a Joint Measurement Survey (JMC) attempt in Mandalahalli village of Bidadi taluk, forcing the survey team to retreat.

What Happened at Mandalahalli Village

Officials arrived at the village to conduct the JMC — a preliminary step in the proposed land acquisition process — when they were met with organised resistance. Farmers who have been protesting the township project for nearly 500 days refused to permit the survey, alleging the government had abruptly initiated the exercise despite sustained opposition. Scores of farmers surrounded the officials' vehicle, effectively blocking the exercise from proceeding.

Women protesters, carrying brooms, demonstrated forcefully against the survey team, reportedly striking the vehicle and allegedly attempting to assault officials with the brooms. Unable to disperse the agitated crowd, the survey team was compelled to withdraw. Police personnel deployed at the site could not bring the situation under control.

Kumaraswamy's Warning to Police and Government

Reacting to the standoff, Kumaraswamy alleged that the 'invisible hand' of the state government was orchestrating the situation. He appealed to farmers, women, and protesters to continue their agitation peacefully and refrain from violence, even as he extended an assurance of legal assistance.

'Farmers have been holding a peaceful protest, but the government is misusing the police to commit atrocities against them,' Kumaraswamy said, urging police personnel not to bow to political pressure. He cautioned that officers who yielded to such pressure would themselves face hardship.

Administration Responds

Following the confrontation, Superintendent of Police Srinivas Gowda rushed to the village and held discussions with protesting farmers. He reviewed the situation with Additional Superintendent of Police Ramachandraiah, Deputy Superintendent of Police Girish, and other officials before staying on site to monitor law and order. The SP urged farmers not to obstruct public servants from discharging their official duties and warned against taking the law into their own hands.

Background: 500 Days of Farmer Opposition

The Bidadi Township project has faced sustained opposition from farming communities who fear the acquisition of fertile agricultural land and the permanent loss of their livelihoods. Notably, this is not an isolated flare-up — farmers have maintained their protest for close to 500 days, making it one of the longer-running land acquisition disputes in Karnataka in recent years. The state government has maintained that the JMC survey is only a preliminary exercise and does not constitute final acquisition, while protesters continue to demand the project be scrapped entirely.

With the administration and protesting farmers now at an impasse, and a senior Union Minister publicly backing the agitation, the dispute is likely to intensify as the government weighs its next steps on the survey.