Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) backed farmers protesting the proposed acquisition of 9,640 acres for the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) Project in Bidadi and demanded that it be cancelled. The protest was in its 568th day. Farmers alleged harassment, abuse, oppression, false criminal cases and fabricated documents to seize land-acquisition compensation.

The Byramangala-Kanchagaranahalli Grama Panchayat Bhuhitharakshana Samiti, supported by Samyuktha Horata Karnataka, is leading the protest. The acquisition covers predominantly rural agricultural land across 9 revenue villages and 16 non-revenue villages outside the municipal boundary, under the Karnataka Urban Development Authorities Act (KUDA Act).

A committee headed by retired Supreme Court Justice V Gopalagowda said the process was null and void and violated the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR), which requires environmental and ecological impacts to be assessed through a statutory Social Impact Assessment. SKM accused the state government of shelving LARR. It said the 2014 Land Acquisition Ordinance introduced by the Modi government to nullify LARR was withdrawn, and accused Congress of abandoning the law in favour of corporate interests.

Members of the Raitha Hitarakshana Samiti and residents of Bairamangala, Kanchugaranahalli and neighbouring villages submitted a memorandum opposing the proposed land acquisition for the Bidadi township. They said it would deprive hundreds of families of their only source of livelihood and sought permission for mercy killing if the government proceeds.

Farmers opposing the Bidadi township project entered the second day of a hunger strike in Bairamangala on September 22, 2026. Two farmers fell ill, and protesters blocked the Bidadi-Harohalli road. They have been protesting against the project for nearly 560 days and are demanding a halt to land acquisition and a probe.

A delegation of farmers from Bidadi met Chief Minister DK Shivakumar at Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, and urged him to continue acquiring land for the proposed Bidadi Township. The meeting came amid opposition party protests against the project.

JD(S) Youth Wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy led a padayatra in Bidadi opposing land acquisition for the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT), saying the party would support farmers from 26 villages, including Byramangala and Kanchugaranahalli.

Karnataka’s final notification covers nearly 500 acres. BJP state president BY Vijayendra claimed 80% of farmers oppose the project and alleged they had been threatened; Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said around 80% had consented and sought compensation, as well as residential plots. Compensation payments were due to begin in the first week of June.

Shivakumar said the project’s initial notification was issued during HD Kumaraswamy’s tenure as chief minister and later continued by B S Yediyurappa; courts had refused to halt it. He cited 9,000 acres in the existing Bidadi industrial area, including 1,000 acres acquired under former chief minister Jagadish Shettar. JD(S) alleges the township is driven by a politically backed land mafia; HD Deve Gowda wrote to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi about the allegation.