The NICE project land dispute intensified on Friday after Union minister HD Kumaraswamy challenged Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to prove that he owns land in the project area, while alleging attempts to take over land acquired for the infrastructure project. Kumaraswamy made the remarks during a tour of four locations where he met farmers from more than 30 villages affected by land acquisition.
Kumaraswamy denied Shivakumar’s allegation that he owned land in the NICE project area and said he had purchased 44 acres in Bidadi before entering politics. He said he had used the land for agriculture and animal husbandry. The Union minister challenged the chief minister to establish otherwise, making a highly provocative public statement if ownership in the project area were proven.
The exchange is part of a wider political dispute over the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor, commonly known as the NICE project, and the land acquired for it. Kumaraswamy alleged that influential individuals were joining hands to take control of land associated with the project. He said 1.7 lakh acres had been identified between Bengaluru and Mysuru and alleged that efforts were under way to grab the land.
Kumaraswamy also referred to changes in the names of entities linked to the dispute. “Names such as NICE, NISEL are disappearing, and a company named Divinity has emerged,” he said, alleging that the government was supporting a Hyderabad-based businessman. He said he had details of the alleged transaction and would disclose them later. The report did not include an official response from Shivakumar to these latest allegations.
The Union minister separately alleged that Shivakumar had purchased around 300 acres in the BM Kaval area and questioned how the land had been acquired. Responding to the chief minister’s position that he was a businessman and that purchasing land was not illegal, Kumaraswamy said land could be acquired only through lawful means. He also questioned the need for another road after the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway had already been built.
Kumaraswamy further alleged that intermediaries had approached him to remain silent on the NICE issue. According to his account, he was offered money and help with expenses for the 2028 Assembly elections in exchange for staying away from the matter. He said he rejected the approaches and would continue to raise the concerns of affected farmers.
During his visit, Kumaraswamy listened to grievances from farmers who said they had lost land to the NICE project. He urged them to join JD(S) workers and party functionaries in a campaign for action on the long-pending issue. “Let us fight together. We should not rest until we achieve our goal,” he said. The next steps, including the proposed disclosure of documents and any formal response from the state government or project authorities, remain to be seen.