Samyukta Horata Karnataka (SHK) on Wednesday suspected that a “real estate conspiracy”, aimed at weakening the farmers’ agitation, was behind the persons instrumental in filing a PIL petition challenging one notification proposing to acquire 518 acres of land for the proposed Bidadi Township project.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, a spokesperson from SHK claimed that the petition, which was recently dismissed by the Karnataka High Court, was not only a “defective” petition but was a deliberate attempt by “vested interests” to prevent the anti-land acquisition movement by the farmers from pursuing their genuine legal battle.

“After the petition was dismissed, a coordinated “misinformation campaign” was launched by “vested interests” in the real estate sector, portraying the Court’s order as a “green signal” for the township project,” even though the Court had clearly clarified in its order that “this order should not be construed as an expression of opinion as to any other issues that may arise in respect to the said notification,” SHK stated.

SHK urged farmers in the Bairamangala and Kanchugaranahalli gram panchayat limits not to be influenced by what it described as false propaganda and to continue protecting their fertile, irrigated multi-crop agricultural land.

Meanwhile, SHK announced that it will organise a public hearing at Bairamangala Circle at 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, where farmers have been staging an indefinite protest against the land acquisition. The hearing will be chaired by Justice V. Gopala Gowda and will seek to hear the grievances of farmers, examine the alleged misinformation campaign surrounding the township project, and discuss the political developments linked to the agitation.