BENGALURU: Farmers began an indefinite hunger strike on Monday, against the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) project in Bidadi, Bengaluru South district.
Thousands of farmers blocked the Bidadi-Harohalli Main Road and staged a protest by sitting on the road and parking bullock carts and tractors.
The Bidadi-Harohalli Main Road is a state highway, and several industries are located in the surrounding areas. The protesters demanded that the government immediately stop the land acquisition process for the controversial project.
While men sat on protest holding placards against the project, women agitators were seen holding brooms.
Speaking to TNIE, Prakash, a farmer from Byramangala village, said, “The farmers began an indefinite hunger strike today (Monday), and we have blocked the road. We attempted to put up a pandal on the
road, but the police stopped us from doing it. Despite the scorching heat and rain, we are continuing our protest, and there is no going back,” he said, adding, “The government has only two options, either watch the farmers die or return their land to them.”
Criticising the police action, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that the attempt to suppress farmers who are peacefully protesting to protect their land through the use of force is condemnable. “When they (farmers) tried to set up a pandal to sit in protest, the police seized it and forced the farmers to sit under the scorching sun. Their conduct is inexcusable. There is no question of tolerating such acts.”
The Bidadi police said the farmers were stopped from setting up the pandal on the road as it would obstruct traffic. They were advised to put up the pandal at another location, police said, clarifying that the police only stopped them from putting up the pandal on the road. Meanwhile, the police have tightened security at the protest site to prevent any untoward incident and maintain traffic movement in the area.