Bidadi AI City Row: Farmers Divided As DKS Pushes Karnataka's Mega Tech Hub

The proposed Bidadi AI City project near Bengaluru has sparked a major political and social controversy in Karnataka. Championed by Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, the project aims to create a world-class AI and technology hub. While some farmers welcome the prospect of jobs, development and rising land values, others fear losing fertile agricultural land, livelihoods and thousands of trees. The issue has drawn criticism from H. D. Kumaraswamy and concerns from within the Congress government itself. As protests intensify and environmental questions mount, the Bidadi AI City project is emerging as one of Karnataka's most contentious development battles.