BENGALURU: Tension prevailed during the protest against the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township project in Bidadi on Tuesday after two farmers attempted to consume poison during a speech by former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP MLA Dr CN Ashwath Narayan.
Farmers have been protesting for a week against the land acquisition by the government for the proposed project, located about 30 km from Bengaluru.
The agitation at Byramangala village in Bidadi, Bengaluru South district, has received support from Opposition Leader R Ashoka, former Deputy CM C N Ashwath Narayan, and Bengaluru Rural MP Dr CN Manjunath.
A farmer named Nagesh attempted to consume pesticide while Narayan was addressing the protesters, and another man tried to follow suit. However, both were stopped by other farmers and the police.
The police immediately rushed them to the ambulance stationed near the protest site.
Land acquisition process illegal, says Ashoka
Addressing the protesters, R Ashoka said that the Congress government is acquiring 9,600 acres of land in Bidadi, Byramangala, and Kanchugaranahalli under the Greater Bengaluru Development Authority. Of this, 6,500 acres are agricultural land.
“There are more than 10 lakh coconut and mango trees here. Every day, 6 lakh liters of milk are supplied to KMF from this region. More than 3,000 farmers and labourers depend on agriculture. Despite this, the government is acquiring fertile land and allotting sites,” he said.
He said that the Housing Board had previously acquired 560 acres of land and developed sites, but no houses have been built. “The Kempegowda Layout and Shivaram Karanth Layout are still vacant. Acquiring fertile land when so much remains unused is a betrayal of farmers. The government wants to make money from real estate. This is illegal,” he alleged. He demanded the government drop the acquisition process and send representatives to listen to the farmers’ grievances.