Shivakumar Rejects Land Mafia Claims Over Bidadi Township

Shivakumar defended the project as a long-standing initiative, noting that the original notifications date back to the tenure of former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and continued under the subsequent BJP administration. He challenged the narrative of farmer displacement, pointing to existing industrial townships in the region as evidence that such developments coexist with local livelihoods. The government maintains that roughly eighty percent of landowners have already provided consent for the project, with compensation disbursements scheduled to commence in June.

Despite the ongoing political friction—which includes formal objections from former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda—Shivakumar remains steadfast. He emphasized that the courts have declined to intervene in the project’s legal status, effectively shutting down the opposition's primary avenues of resistance. While Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy continues to push for a public debate on the matter, the state government is prioritizing land acquisition and site development, citing the broader necessity of urban planning and regional economic growth.