Victory for Farmers as Karnataka Denotifies 1,777 Acres After Protest

Channarayapatna, Karnataka: In a landmark decision, the Karnataka government has denotified 1,777 acres of agricultural land in Channarayapatna, Hassan district, marking a significant victory for farmers and workers who waged a prolonged, united struggle against the proposed land acquisition.

The land, earmarked by the previous BJP -led government for development near the Bangalore International Airport, was targeted for corporate and real estate interests. However, strong resistance from local farmers, under the banner of the Struggle Committee and supported by a broad coalition of class, mass, and Dalit organisations, halted the plan after over 1,200 days of protest.

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), which actively supported the agitation, congratulated the farming community and allied organisations for their “historic victory against coercive land acquisition.” The movement was coordinated initially by late comrade G C Bayyareddy, former state president of Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (KPRS), with key roles played by fraternal groups including CITU, AIAWU, and AIDWA.

The struggle intensified after a police crackdown on June 26, when peaceful protestors faced baton charges and arrests. The incident sparked widespread outrage and solidarity demonstrations across Karnataka. Cultural figures, civil society groups, and thousands under the Samyukta Horata Karnataka banner staged protests in Freedom Park, Bengaluru.

Following mounting pressure and statewide outrage, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was forced to intervene belatedly, only after police repression triggered massive protests. Despite earlier inaction, the government finally suspended the acquisition process. It was only on July 15, after over three years of relentless agitation, that the land was formally denotified, conceding to the farmers' long-standing demand.

AIKS emphasized that the struggle was not for better compensation but an outright rejection of forced land acquisition for real estate projects. The organisation hailed the decision as a morale booster for similar struggles across the country and reiterated its support to Samyukta Horata Karnataka and Samyukta Kisan Morcha in future land rights movements.