By Peoples News Online
Farmers in the Devanahalli region of Karnataka have been fighting unrelentingly for almost 2,000 days against the state government’s arbitrary seizure of their productive lands. What started out as a small-scale demonstration has grown into a representation of opposition to state-sponsored land grabs and corporate greed masquerading as “industrial development.”
The communist and leftist movements in Nepal find great resonance in this struggle. Whether in feudal monarchies or neoliberal regimes, it reflects the struggles Nepali farmers have waged against exploitative land acquisition practices. The struggle of the Karnataka farmers is not only about land; it is also about defending food sovereignty, agrarian communities’ survival, and opposition to capitalist exploitation.
The Struggle Against Forced Land Acquisition
In Devanahalli Taluk, close to Bengaluru’s international airport, the Karnataka government has been trying to take 1,777 acres of farmland spread across 13 villages, first under the far-right Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and now under the Congress party. Farmers and activists contend that the government’s claim that the land is required for a “defense and aerospace park” is just a front for real estate exploitation.
The Land Acquisition Act of 2013, which requires 70–80% of landowners to consent to private projects, was circumvented by the government under the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Act (KIAD Act, 1966). Instead, the state forcibly seized land without the consent of farmers using the harsh KIAD Act.
T. Yashavantha, general secretary of the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (KPRS), a farmers’ union affiliated with the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), explains:
“They have already acquired 6,000 acres for this so-called industrial park since 2014, but 90% of it lies vacant. No factories, no jobs—just empty land handed over to real estate mafias. This is not development; this is loot.”
Congress’ Betrayal and the BJP’s Fascist Handover
The Congress party, which came to power in 2023 promising to halt the land acquisition, has instead accelerated it. Farmers who voted for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah feel betrayed.
Meanwhile, the previous BJP government had already handed over hundreds of acres to Chanakya University, an institution linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)—a fascist paramilitary organization. The land, worth ₹300-400 crore, was given away for a mere ₹50 crore, exposing the crony capitalism at play.
Now, the Congress government is facilitating luxury apartment projects by real estate giant Brigade Group on the same land meant for “industrial development.”
Farmers’ Lives at Stake
For farmers like Nanjappa and Thimmarayappa, this land is not just property—it is their livelihood, their heritage, and their future.
“We grow mangoes, bananas, grapes, vegetables. We have poultry and dairy farms. This land feeds not just our families but also landless laborers who depend on us for work,” says Nanjappa.
If the government succeeds, thousands of farmers will be pushed into landlessness and urban slums, joining the millions of displaced peasants across India who become cheap labor for capitalist industries.
A United Front of Workers, Women, and Oppressed Castes
The farmers’ resistance has drawn support from trade unions, women’s organizations, Dalit and Adivasi groups, artists, and intellectuals. When police brutally attacked protesters on June 25, detaining women activists like Varalakshmi of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the movement only grew stronger.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) organized statewide protests, while the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM)—which led the historic farmers’ movement against Modi’s farm laws—extended solidarity.
A New Model of Resistance
Unlike other land struggles where farmers settle for compensation, the Devanahalli farmers are fighting to retain their land. As Vijoo Krishnan of AIKS stated:
“This is a new model of resistance—not just demanding fair compensation but defending the right to land itself.”
Now, with the government signaling a possible retreat, the farmers remain vigilant. They have given the state an ultimatum: “Reverse the acquisition or jail us all.”
Lessons for Nepal’s Left and Farmers’ Movements
For Nepal’s communist and leftist forces, this struggle holds critical lessons:
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Unity Across Classes – The alliance between farmers, workers, women, and oppressed castes shows the power of a united front against capitalist exploitation.
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Rejecting False Development – The “industrial park” narrative is a fraud. Real development must prioritize food sovereignty and peasants’ rights.
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Long-Term Resistance – Victory does not come overnight. The Karnataka farmers’ persistence for nearly 2,000 days proves that sustained struggle is key.
As Nepal faces its own battles against corporate land grabs—whether for “infrastructure projects” or “foreign investment”—the Karnataka movement stands as a beacon of resistance.
The farmers are on the verge of victory. But the fight is far from over—not just in Karnataka, but across South Asia, where capitalism continues to displace the working masses.
Solidarity to the struggling farmers!
Land to the tillers!
Down with capitalist land grabs!