HD Kumaraswamy challenges Congress for open debate

Key points

• Kumaraswamy challenged Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to an open debate on the development of Bengaluru and handling of land around…
• Kumaraswamy acknowledged that the Bidadi Township was a project he had envisioned during his tenure as chief minister, but it…
• Kumaraswamy accused the state government of acting in the interests of private parties and alleged that the Bidadi Township and…
• “Congress leaders have raised questions about the origins of these projects.

BENGALURU: Responding to the Congress claim that the Bidadi Township and NICE projects were conceived by Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy challenged Congress leaders to an open discussion on the projects.

“Congress leaders have raised questions about the origins of these projects. I am ready to sit across the table and discuss everything,” he stated, addressing thousands of Bidadi farmers and JDS supporters at a protest organised by the JDS youth wing against the Bidadi Integrated Township and AI City, planned over 7,000 acres, and the government’s land acquisition process.

Kumaraswamy accused the state government of acting in the interests of private parties and alleged that the Bidadi Township and NICE projects were being employed to target land worth thousands of crores. He also alleged that the administration was now attempting to gain control of the NICE project through indirect means.

“You have already taken control of NICE land. Now you are creating benami companies and attempting to take over the entire project. Meanwhile, you are seeking to acquire fertile land belonging to farmers in Bidadi,” he alleged. He claimed that 70 acres of kharab land allotted to Eagleton Resort was compensated at Rs 12 crore per acre, but the administration was offering only Rs 3 crore per acre for fertile agricultural land of Bidadi farmers.

Kumaraswamy acknowledged that the Bidadi Township was a project he had envisioned during his tenure as chief minister, but it was deviated later. The NICE project was conceived during Deve Gowda’s tenure, but the agency which had promised to build five townships as part of the NICE project did not build any of them, and farmers have not received any compensation for the past 20 years.

Kumaraswamy challenged Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to an open debate on the development of Bengaluru and handling of land around the city. “Come, let us debate. I am ready to discuss everything. You have spoken about transforming Bengaluru and now speak of Brand Bengaluru. But the people can see what is happening to land and public assets around the city,” he stated.