BENGALURU
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar made an emotional plea, asking critics to target him instead of government officials following a tense clash over a controversial township project in Bidadi.
Addressing a press conference, a visibly shaken Shivakumar defended his staff against politically motivated attacks. He stated that he would gladly take the blame, or even be hit with a broom, rather than see his officers harassed by opposition parties who are misleading local farmers.
Shivakumar firmly clarified that the Bidadi suburban township is not his personal dream project. He revealed that the initiative actually started in 2006 under Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who was the Chief Minister at the time. Shivakumar accused his rivals of hypocrisy, pointing out that previous governments had locked private lands into red zones and handled massive developer deals.
Reassuring the public, the Chief Minister stressed that as a farmer’s son, he understands their struggles deeply. He promised that the current government will never snatch land by force. Instead, land acquisition will remain entirely voluntary, allowing farmers to hand over their property only if they are satisfied with the compensation.
Responding to Kumaraswamy’s recent taunts that he would soon end up in prison, Shivakumar remained unfazed. He remarked that jail is nothing new to him and dismissed the comments as political jealousy from rivals who cannot accept his leadership. To resolve the ongoing dispute, the government will form a special cabinet committee to review the township project.
