Published Aug 10, 2026 | 4:39 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 10, 2026 | 4:39 PM
The three-day padayatra was launched at Byramangala on Sunday.
Synopsis: Former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda joined the party’s padayatra in Bidadi on Monday to oppose the acquisition of farmers’ land for the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township project. The three-day march is covering about 40 km from Byramangala near Bidadi to Freedom Park in Bengaluru and is being led by JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy with support from the BJP.
Janata Dal (Secular) patriarch and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda on Monday, 10 August, participated in the party’s padayatra opposing the acquisition of farmers’ land for the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) project near Bidadi in Bengaluru South district, Karnataka.
Karnataka Assembly Leader of Opposition R Ashoka was also present. Ninety-three-year-old Deve Gowda joined the march at BGS Circle in Bidadi as the second day of the padayatra began.
Protesters raised slogans such as “Our land, our right.” They accused the government of promoting real-estate interests and alleged that it was attempting to suppress farmers by filing false cases against them.
The padayatra, being conducted with the support of alliance partner BJP, is expected to cover roughly 40 km from Byramangala near Bidadi to Freedom Park in Bengaluru. It is being led by JD(S) youth wing president and Gowda’s grandson Nikhil Kumaraswamy.
The three-day padayatra was launched at Byramangala on Sunday by JD(S) chairman and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
Amid protests by farmers and local residents, the state government has constituted a high-level committee headed by retired High Court judge Justice Guhanathan Narendra to examine the various views and responses regarding the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township project.
The GBIT project has been projected as India’s first artificial-intelligence-based integrated township.
Despite opposition from farmers and local residents, the government has issued final notifications in two phases to acquire more than 5,400 acres spread across seven villages for the project.
On Sunday, the government raised the compensation for farmers whose land is being acquired for the project to more than ₹3 crore an acre.
The announcement comes as the government has begun compensating some landowners who have agreed to give up their land. In June, the first set of cheques was reportedly handed over to seven farmers from Kempaiahanapalya, with the government then fixing the land price at ₹2.30 crore an acre, along with compensation for the loss of trees.
(With inputs from Keerthivas)
