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Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda on Monday launched the second day of the party's Bidadi Padayatra from BGS Circle in Bidadi on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The march was led by JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy. Nikhil is the grandson of Deve Gowda and son of Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy.

This march is being taken out in protest against the proposed Bidadi Township Project and in support of the farmers' concerns regarding land acquisition. Deve Gowda began the second day of the padayatra in the presence of senior JD(S) leaders, MLAs and party workers.

JD(S) says that the purpose of this march is to highlight the concerns of farmers and to oppose any such step which may adversely affect their land and livelihood. A large number of party workers and BJP supporters participated in the second day of the padayatra and the leaders reiterated their resolve to continue raising the issue of farmers' land rights.

Speaking to the media after flagging off the march, former PM Deve Gowda questioned the intentions behind the Karnataka government's proposed township project and asked Chief Minister DK Shivakumar who would ultimately benefit from it.

He asked, “What is the intention behind the Bidadi Township Project? Who are they trying to benefit? Why are they trying to implement it within 60 days of becoming the Chief Minister?”

Deve Gowda said, “When DK Shivakumar was the Deputy Chief Minister and had the charge of Bengaluru, why did he not start it? Why are they now trying to implement a township project that did not exist for so many years?”

He said that more than 20,000 sites of Bengaluru Development Authority are lying vacant in Bengaluru. In such a situation, he questioned the need for another township project.

Karnataka BJP president and MLA BY Vijayendra said there is no confusion within the party about protecting the land and interests of farmers in Bidadi and added that the BJP will stand firmly with the farmers.

Vijayendra said, “BJP has no qualms in protecting the land and interests of the farmers of Bidadi. Both BJP and JD(S) are fighting for the interests of the farmers and protecting the interests of the farmers is our common objective.”

Clearing the BJP's stand on the Padyatra, senior BJP leader Vijayendra said that no one needs to be confused about this issue.