Bidadi township: Magadi MLA Balakrishna accuses HDK of selective opposition, using farmers for politics

Magadi MLA and Congress leader HC Balakrishna on Tuesday criticized Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy, accusing them of selectively opposing the proposed Bidadi District Project while remaining silent on similar land acquisition works across the State.

Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru, Mr. Balakrishna questioned why Mr. Kumaraswamy was protesting only in Bidadi despite land acquisition for various projects in places like Sarjapur, Chickballapur, Hosakote and Doddaballapur. He also pointed out that 1,800 acres of land had been acquired in Hassan (Mr. Kumaraswamy’s hometown) for a proposed IIT campus before final approval was received from the Centre.

Expressing reservations over Mr Kumaraswamy’s demand for a discussion on the project to be held in Bidadi or Bairamangala, he said it could lead to fights between JD(S) and Congress workers, hence such a meeting could attract huge crowds from both sides and create law and order concerns.

The MLA also claimed that the farmers’ agitation has now taken a political dimension and accused the JD(S) leadership of mobilizing supporters from Mandya, Mysuru and other districts to strengthen the protest. He alleged that the move was being used to target Mr. Shivakumar politically rather than addressing farmers’ concerns.

However, protesting farmers in Bidadi accused Mr. Balakrishna of not visiting any of the villages under the project in the last one year despite being the local MLA.