I’ll wait for CM Shivakumar to come for talks with farmers on Greater Bengaluru Township project in Bidadi: Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru, June 26 (IANS) The political tussle over the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township Project at Bidadi continued on Friday, with Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, stating that he would wait for Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to arrive at the affected region on Saturday for discussions on the project.

Kumaraswamy clarified that the issue was not one of personal prestige and maintained that he was only standing with the aggrieved farmers.

“If farmers have no objection to the land acquisition, I have no objection either. Having served as the Chief Minister, I do not want to hamper the development of Bengaluru city,” he underlined.

It may be recalled that Kumaraswamy had written to Chief Minister Shivakumar for the second time, inviting him to visit Byramangala village on June 27 for an on-site interaction with residents likely to be affected by the proposed township project.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy said, “I have already informed him (CM Shivakumar) that I will be with the farmers tomorrow at the time I had proposed. If he comes, it is welcome. The issue should be resolved smoothly.”

“Since yesterday, they have made a few people sit in protest claiming that they are ready to part with their lands and accept compensation. Around 20 people have put up a tent in front of those farmers who have been protesting against land acquisition for more than 400 days,” Kumaraswamy alleged.

“I know who is behind this move and the background to it. My agitation is not against Chief Minister Shivakumar. The farmers approached me nearly two months ago, strongly opposing the acquisition of their lands. My struggle is for their interests. Around 70 to 80 per cent of the farmers are opposed to the project, and their agitation has already crossed 450 days,” he said.

“My intervention is only because of the farmers’ grievances. I am neither against him nor in his favour. I stand with the farmers. The majority of them are unwilling to part with their lands. There is no prestige issue involved for me. If all the farmers agree to the land acquisition, I have absolutely no objection,” he clarified.

Questioning the government’s approach, Kumaraswamy said forcibly displacing farmers would not help anyone. “Everything has to be done through dialogue and consensus. When there is such strong opposition, why is the government going ahead with the Bidadi project?” he asked.

Responding to Congress MLA H.C. Balakrishna’s statement that the Chief Minister’s visit to the affected region could trigger a law and order problem, Kumaraswamy remarked that, by that logic, all the farmers should instead be invited to Vidhana Soudha.

Recalling his tenure as Chief Minister between 2006 and 2007, Kumaraswamy said he had invited around 500 to 600 farmers opposing the project to his official residence, ‘Krishna’, on three separate occasions and held detailed discussions with them.

“We did not act in haste. We patiently held discussions and explained the project to them,” he said.

He further noted that records of the Assembly debates showed Congress leaders themselves had opposed the Bidadi project at the time.

“Let Chief Minister Shivakumar ask his advisers to retrieve those Assembly records. He should first read what his own party had said before taking any decision,” Kumaraswamy remarked.

Stating that he would continue to support the farmers’ agitation, Kumaraswamy said the matter would ultimately have to be settled through legal means.

“I am going there to support the farmers. Nothing will happen on the ground unless the legal issues are addressed. The land acquisition law was enacted by the UPA government in 2013. Ironically, the Congress government itself is now violating the very law while pushing ahead with this project. We must prepare for a legal battle,” he said.

Kumaraswamy said he would meet the farmers, who have been protesting for nearly 470 days, and remain there until noon, awaiting the Chief Minister’s arrival.

“If he wants to hold discussions peacefully and convince the farmers, I have no objection. We are not going there to create confrontation or trouble. However, I feel they are the ones trying to create a law and order situation so that prohibitory orders can be imposed. They have arranged for around 20 people to stage a counter-protest,” he alleged.

Questioning the government’s claims regarding compensation, Kumaraswamy said, “After all these developments, how many people have actually received compensation? They claim to have paid Rs 19 crore. For a project worth Rs 20,000 crore, they are forcing compensation on people. A few farmers have surrendered their lands because cultivation is no longer viable in certain villages. I understand their circumstances, but that number is very small. Just because a handful have given up their lands does not mean all the farmers support the acquisition.”

Emphasising that he was not opposed to Bengaluru’s growth, Kumaraswamy said, “I have served as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. Would I ever say that Bengaluru’s development should stop? First, fix the multiple problems Bengaluru is already facing. If you create another city without addressing the existing city’s issues, won’t people laugh?”

Responding to allegations regarding his wristwatch, Kumaraswamy said, “They are spreading propaganda that I wear a wristwatch worth Rs 70 lakh. The watch I am wearing is an HMT watch bearing Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s picture. If anyone has doubts, they can send an SIT team to verify it and seize it if they find otherwise.”

–IANS

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