Police Stop JD(S) Land Acquisition March, Deve Gowda Calls Mega Protest on August 18

The Janata Dal (Secular) on Monday called off its padayatra against agricultural land acquisition for the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) project near Bidadi, a day ahead of schedule, after police stopped the march near Kaniminike in Bengaluru South district.

The JD(S), backed by its alliance partner BJP, had planned a three-day march from Byramangala near Bidadi to Freedom Park in Bengaluru. Led by party youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy, the march entered its second day on Monday but was halted by police barricades on a service road near the Kaniminike toll plaza on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway.

The confrontation saw pushing and shoving between protesters and police as party workers and farmers attempted to move ahead. Nikhil and other JD(S) leaders also engaged in heated discussions with police officials. The party later said it had withdrawn the march peacefully and would not take the law into its own hands.

Nikhil announced that the party would instead organise a massive protest at Freedom Park on August 18, under the leadership of former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda.

Deve Gowda questioned the government's decision to stop the march and alleged that pressure was being exerted on the police. He said he would participate in the August 18 protest and decide the party's next course of action after discussions with its leaders.

The padayatra was originally expected to cover around 38 km and was flagged off on Sunday by Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.

The dispute centres on land acquisition for the proposed GBIT project. The government has issued final notifications to acquire over 5,400 acres across seven villages, despite opposition from farmers and local residents.

Amid the protests, the state government has constituted a high-level committee headed by retired High Court judge Justice Guhanathan Narendar to examine concerns and feedback regarding the project.