Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R. Ashok demanded that the State government scrap the proposed Bidadi Township project, arguing that it was unnecessary and would lead to loss of productive farmland.

While championed by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, BJP’s ally, Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, has been opposing the project, though it was during his tenure in 2007 that the project was mooted. 

Mr. Ashok said, while the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi objected to projects in the Greater Nicobar, arguing that it will lead to environmental destruction, he remained silent on Bidadi, where thousands of acres of fertile land was being acquired and lakhs of trees cut. 

‘Oppose garbage tenders’

Claiming that Bengaluru’s ₹39,437-crore worth Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) tenders would burden the city for decades, Mr. Ashok urged citizens, resident welfare associations, students, and senior citizens to start a letter-writing campaign to the Governor and the President against the “garbage tender scam”.

“The city’s garbage is becoming a source of income for the Congress high command, while Bengaluru’s residents are suffering,” he said.