Devanahalli land row: Prominent personalities seek intervention of Congress high command

Ahead of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s July 15 meeting with Devanahalli farmers who are seeking shelving of land acquisition, 65 prominent personalities, including historian Ramachandra Guha and writer Devanur Mahadeva, have sought immediate intervention of the Congress high command to provide justice to farmers.

In an open letter to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, the prominent personalities have appealed to him to act with urgency and foresight to ensure that the Government of Karnataka honours its word and stands by farmers who are demanding that process of acquisition of 1,777 acres of land in 13 villages of Channarayapatna hobli in Devanahalli taluk for the proposed aerospace park be shelved.

“This is the moment to stand not only with the people — but for the principles they entrusted you to uphold,” said these personalities who include environmentalist N. Yellappa Reddy, theatre artists B. Jayashree and Arundhati Nag, agricultuiral economist Prakash Kammaradi, progressive writer Vijayamma, and film-maker Girish Kasaravalli besides a host of former Vice-Chancellors. 

They expressed concern over some people in the government voicing apprehensions that meeting the farmers’ demands may hinder development or drive industries to neighbouring States.

“This narrative appears to be paving the way for delays or a possible retreat from the commitment (made before the Assembly elections to farmers that their land acquisition will be shelved). Such backtracking will not only erode the credibility of the State government, but seriously damage the Congress party’s standing among rural and agrarian communities,” they warned.

“Ahead of the July 15 meeting with farmers, we urge the Karnataka government to initiate inclusive consultations — including industry leaders — to evolve a comprehensive, transparent, and balanced land acquisition and industrial land use policy,” they said.

Pointing out that 163 affected farmers belong to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and much of this land was granted to them under land reform schemes, they argued that such land cannot be acquired or transferred without special permissions and protections. Circumventing these would violate constitutional guarantees and the spirit of social justice, they contended.