Bidadi project: How did an AI city plan turn into a broom-led farmers' resistance in Karnataka?
In the rural stretches of Bidadi, just 40 kilometres from Bengaluru's tech hubs, a vision of the future is clashing with the realities of the soil. The Karnataka government has proposed the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT), marketed as India's first "AI-powered city". It is an ambitious plan covering nearly 9,600 acres. However, for the local community, this is not a digital dream but a threat to their survival. The project requires the acquisition of vast stretches of fertile agricultural land, sparking fierce "agrarian resistance" from those who cultivate it.
Brooms, Stones, and Broken Glass
The tension turned into open conflict on July 13 in Mandalhalli village. As officials from the revenue, forest and horticulture departments arrived to conduct a land survey, they were met by hundreds of angry protesters. In a striking display of local defiance, many were women "wielding brooms" who chased the government teams away. The situation quickly spiralled.
Stones and sticks were used as farmers clashed with police, forcing the survey to a complete halt. During the melee, the windows of a survey vehicle were smashed. Four people, including police officer Murali and three others — Mahesh, Rohini and Keerthana — sustained "minor" injuries. The police have since responded with legal action. Two FIRs have been registered at the Bidadi Police Station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. One case names 11 individuals from nearby villages, while the second FIR books "farmers" from the region collectively for unlawful assembly, rioting and obstructing public servants.
A War of Political Ambitions
The local struggle has ignited a high-level political slugfest between Karnataka's most powerful leaders. Former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda has placed himself firmly on the side of the protesters. During a press conference, he appealed directly to Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to reconsider the project. "Don't destroy the livelihood of the farmers," Gowda warned, urging the government to "withdraw the FIRs" immediately.
The JD(S) leader went further, alleging that the township is a tool for Shivakumar's own political rise. He questioned whether the Chief Minister had made a promise to his "High Command" to "sacrifice the lives of farmers" in exchange for his position. Gowda claimed he stayed away from the protest site only to avoid being accused of provoking the farmers, but threatened to join them if the government persists. "You must understand the pain of the farmers," he added, acknowledging that while the government acts according to the law, it must show compassion.
The Government Defends the Law
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has dismissed the allegations as "politicising" by the BJP and JD(S). He maintained that the government is operating within a legal framework that he cannot simply bypass. "The law doesn't allow me to drop the proceedings," the Chief Minister said, while promising that the state "will take care of the farmers". Shivakumar also turned the heat on his rivals, particularly Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy. He pointed out that Kumaraswamy served as Chief Minister twice and had every opportunity to drop the project then if he truly opposed it.
Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara backed the government's firm stance, highlighting the violence against officials. While he said the government has "no objection" to peaceful protests, he condemned the use of "brooms and stones" against survey officers. He suggested the unrest might be driven by "political pressure" rather than genuine farmer concerns. As the government prepares for the upcoming Assembly session, Parameshwara said that while it will face state-wide issues, legal action will continue against those who break the law. For now, the "AI-powered city" remains a blueprint stalled by the very people whose land it requires.