Hundreds of farmers from more than five districts gathered at BGS Circle in Bidadi to commence a bike rally to Bairamangala called by the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) in support of farmers protesting against the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township, popularly known as the Bidadi Township project.
This marks the first large-scale farmers’ agitation, although local farmers have been protesting at a designated place in Bairamangala village for over 460 days.
The bike rally was called by the KRRS, headed by farmers’ leader Badagalapura Nagendra, and supported by Melukote MLA Darshan Puttannaiah.
Bike rally against Bidadi Township project
Farmers from districts around Bengaluru intensified their protest against the Bidadi Township Project by the government of Karnataka by undertaking a bike rally to Bidadi, under the banner of ‘Bairamangala Chalo’ on June 22, 2026.
| Video Credit:
The Hindu
The ongoing protest is against the Bidadi Township Project, for which the Karnataka government is set to acquire 9,600 acres of land, including over 7,200 acres of farmland. Nearly two lakh trees are likely to be felled for the project, raising ecological concerns. The Greater Bengaluru Development Authority (GBDA), the project-implementing agency, has issued a final notification to acquire 519 acres of land across three villages. The GBDA is set to issue final notifications for more villages soon.
Following this development, farmers’ groups from across the state have extended their support and planned the rally in solidarity with the protesting farmers.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Nagendra said that about 4,000 farmers from across nine districts would join the rally, which will culminate at Bairamangala. Farmers’ leaders will place their demands on behalf of the protesting farmers at the convention.
“Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has been spearheading the project. He claims he is the son of a farmer; if so, he should listen to these grieving farmers,” he said.
Mr. Nagendra said they would expand the protest and turn it into a State-wide farmers’ movement if the government does not stop the project.
Farmers from across districts
To take part in the protest, farmers have arrived from Bengaluru South district, Bengaluru Rural district, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Mandya, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, and surrounding districts.
While hundreds arrived on bikes and in cars, more than 500 farmers travelled by train from distant places. Local farmers arrived on tractors to join the rally.
On June 21, JD(S) Youth State Unit President Nikhil Kumaraswamy undertook an 11-km padayatra across eight villages in Bengaluru South district, protesting against the proposed Bidadi Township project in Bengaluru South district.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
This protest follows Janata Dal (Secular) leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy’s protest march on Sunday (June 21), covering nine villages. The march marked the first on-ground political standoff over the issue.
The rally organised by the KRRS on June 22 will be the first direct standoff between the farmers groups and the government and is likely to gain momentum.
Published – June 22, 2026 11:59 am IST
