Now Reading: BJP-JD(S) launch padayatra against Bidadi township project
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BJP-JD(S) launch padayatra against Bidadi township project
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Karnataka LoP R. Ashok flagged off a joint padayatra by the BJP and JD(S) against the Bidadi Township Project on Sunday. The three-day march, led by JD(S)…
The Story in Brief
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Karnataka LoP R. Ashok flagged off a joint padayatra by the BJP and JD(S) against the Bidadi Township Project on Sunday. The three-day march, led by JD(S) Youth Wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy, began at Bairamangala Circle and will end at Bengaluru's Freedom Park on Tuesday. Over 1,000 farmers and party supporters participated.
Kumaraswamy cited a 2006 Congress-led committee report that termed the project 'disastrous', noting that it covers 3,000 houses, 1.56 lakh coconut trees, 48,000 arecanut trees, and 13,000 neem trees on fertile land. Ashok alleged the government-appointed committee is packed with 'payment' placements. A farmers group, however, kept its distance from the protest, saying it will continue its own course. The issue is set to be raised in the monsoon session of the assembly.
The Indian Opinion
The padayatra against the Bidadi Township Project is being framed as a farmers' struggle, but it is clearly a political manoeuvre by the BJP and JD(S) ahead of the monsoon session. The claim that the Congress government is pursuing a 'disastrous' project, based on a 2006 report that included Congress leaders, conveniently ignores that times and circumstances change. The real question is whether the government will present a balanced assessment of the project's merits and demerits, or if this protest will force a purely populist retreat. Voters should watch if the committee report is released and debated transparently.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
