JD(S) to launch 'people's movement' against BJP

Addressing reporters, he said he would launch the movement in Belgaum and will cover 21 districts in the next two months.

Farmers will be educated about the vicious intention of the BJP government in acquiring their lands and agitations would be organised as part of the movement, he said.

Gowda said the government had acquired 1.02 lakh acres of farmland on the pretext of setting up industries. After organising the Global Investors’ Meet in 2010, the Yeddyurappa government had announced that about 900 industries would be set up across the State. But only 18 companies have established their units so far, utilising 4,805 acres of land, he said.

The JD(S) leader said a major portion of the acquired land was fertile and hundreds of farmers were displaced after their lands were acquired by the government. The acquired lands were used neither for industrial purposes, nor for farming. The real intention of the government in creating a land bank was to gobble up fertile farmland, he said.

Gowda called upon the aggrieved farmers to fight land acquisitions like farm owners in Odisha. The Yeddyurappa government should give back land to farmers, he demanded.
After touring Belgaum district on Friday, the former prime minister will cover Bagalkot and Dharwad districts on June 18 and 19, respectively, in the first phase of the movement.
The party has convened a meeting of its leaders on June 22 in Bangalore to chalk out a detailed plan for the movement.