Latest news with #SaveOurLands'
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Devanahalli farmers' protest: CM Siddaramaiah seeks 10 days to clarify government's stance on land acquisition
The much-anticipated meeting between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and farmers of Devanahalli taluk at Vidhana Soudha hit yet another impasse on July 4, 2025, with the Karnataka government seeking 10-days' time to clarify its stance. Farmers from 13 villages of Channarayapatna hobli in Devanahalli taluk are demanding shelving of acquisition of 1,777 acres of their lands for an aerospace park. They have been opposing the project for over 1,185 days. Following the crucuial meeting, the Chief Minister's Office said that due to legal hurdles, the government would need more time to hold consultations with experts before taking a final call. 'Since the final notification was already issued in April, there is a need to discuss the pros and cons (of shelving the acquisition process). Therefore, the government will require a period of 10 days to arrive at a clear decision,' the CMO said in a statement. 'The government cannot take any actions contrary to the law. As the final notification has already been issued, there is a need to review its legal aspects. A preliminary meeting regarding this was held yesterday,' the statement added, referring to the marathon meeting held on July 3 by Mr. Siddaramaiah, Industries Minister M.B. Patil, and other officials. 'We believe in democracy and dialogue. We have not obstructed any protests. I have myself been part of the farmers' organisation, and even though protests are being held against us, we have not attempted to suppress them,' Mr. Siddaramaiah added. The CM has called for another meeting in 10 days to finalise the government's position. With talks hitting a deadlock, farmers are likely to intensify their protests till July 15. Earlier in the day, national leaders of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), including Rakesh Tikait, who are in Karnataka to meet the protesting farmers, addressed a State-level convention titled 'Save Our Lands' in support of farmers.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Devanahalli protest: Medha Patkar appeals to CM to repeal project ahead of his meeting with farmers on Friday
Ahead of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's crucial meeting on Friday with farmers of Devanahalli taluk, who are demanding shelving of acquisition of their lands for Aerospace Park, social activist Medha Patkar has written a letter appealing to his 'conscience' to take cognisance of people's views and 'perspective of development' and repeal the project. Also, national leaders of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), including Rakesh Tikait, who arrived in Karnataka to meet the protesting farmers, not only appealed to the Chief Minister to consider the farmers' demand, but also warned of an intensified agitation if land acquisition is not shelved. They are also set to address a State-level convention titled 'Save Our Lands' in Bengaluru on Friday in support of farmers. Protracted fight Farmers of Channarayapatna hobli of Devanahalli taluk have been protesting for 1,186 days demanding that the notification on acquisition of 1,777 acres of land in 13 villages of the taluk be shelved. As their protest became broad-based with various progressive organisations lending their support, the chief minister has convened a meeting with their representatives in Bengaluru on Friday to discuss their demand. As the countdown began for the much expected meeting with the Chief Minister, Ms. Medha Patkar, in her letter, said, 'I appeal to your conscience, and Cabinet ministers, including Industries Minister M.B. Patil, to take cognisance of people's views and perspective of development and repeal the proposed project and save their livelihood which is a part of Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution.' During UPA regime She further said, 'You know that it was the erstwhile UPA government's regime, during which the LARR Act, 2013, was passed, and that provided big relief to the project-affected people since they were given space and participatory rights in the decision-making process. Yet in many of the States after 2013, different Acts/policies were passed using the right of the State, since land acquisition is in the concurrent list.' She hoped that the government under Mr. Siddaramaiah's helm would not bypass these participatory and democratic processes in decision making. 'We also expect that you would stand with the farmers, small traders and all those whose livelihood depends on the land which is proposed to be acquired for the industrial estate,' she said. 'We would like industries to be as decentralised, giving priority to these small industries, cottage industries, village industries that would generate employment rather than the mega-industries. Also, the land to be used for non-agricultural purposes should be mostly the government land and waste land and not the prime agriculture land,' Ms. Patkar said. Earlier, addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, SKM national leaders hoped that the Chief Minister would respond positively to the farmers' demands. They said the Chief Minister should send a message to BJP-ruled States that he is in favour farmers by shelving the project. Pre-poll promise Pointing out that he had assured farmers before the polls of dropping this project if voted to power, they argued that shelving the project should have been the first decision he should have made. Meanwhile, the National Alliance of Agrarian Communities and the National Alliance of People's Movements too sent a letter to the Chief Minister, urging him to stand by the toiling farmers. In another development, Mr. Siddaramaiah, Mr. Patil, and other officials and Ministers held a marathon meeting on Thursday to discuss the issue.
