'What Happened To The 2015 Promise': BJP Targets Karnataka Govt Over New Land Pledge To Soldiers

Last Updated:March 10, 2026, 16:51 IST

Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda announced that the government would develop localities and allot sites to retired soldiers

The BJP has put the Congress government in Karnataka on the mat over its latest promise by Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda to allot sites to retired soldiers. The BJP questioned on what basis the announcement is being made, when similar promises made in 2015 remain unfulfilled.

Senior BJP leader SR Vishwanath questioned that, when soldiers who risk their lives to protect the country continue to wait for sites promised to them years ago, now the Revenue Minister makes new promises when land is yet to be properly identified or allocated to those soldiers promised earlier.

“In the Assembly session yesterday, the Harihar MLA had raised the issue of sites for former soldiers. In Ghattaganahalli in Yelahanka constituency, the government had identified land and allocated sites to former soldiers in 2015," Vishwanath said.

“I have held more than ten meetings regarding this issue. But till now, the Revenue Department has neither identified the land properly nor handed it over," he added.

The row erupted in the Legislative Assembly after Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda announced that the government would develop localities and allot sites to retired soldiers across the state this year while responding to a question raised by BJP MLA BP Harish.

“This year, across the state, the pending applications of retired soldiers will be considered. The government will develop localities and allot sites to soldiers this year," Byre Gowda told the House, adding that earlier there were no proper records of applications submitted by soldiers, but the data is now available following digitisation.

He also said land to be acquired in the second phase has already been identified and the government will examine eligibility during the allotment process.

Byre Gowda told News18 that  his department will allot land after proper assessment, with the new digitised process it will done quickly. “We plan to complete these allotments by the end of the year. The BJP has done nothing and are politicising unnecessarily. They did not allot a single plot of land  during their term,“ he said.

The BJP leader accused revenue officials of delaying the process while allegedly favouring private parties.

“If it is for private parties, officials immediately knock on doors and hand over the land. But revenue officers and tahsildars have put retired soldiers through immense hardship," Vishwanath said.

“In this government, Revenue Department officials do not even listen to the Revenue Minister. Former soldiers have told us that officials even demand money from them," he alleged, claiming that government land had been divided and sold to private parties.

Taking a swipe at the administration, Vishwanath also referred to the ongoing drone survey in Bengaluru.

“Money has already been given to those conducting drone surveys," he said. Attacking Principal Secretary Munish Moudgil, who is overseeing drone surveys for the Revenue Department in Bengaluru, Vishwanath said people believe such “intelligent" officers should be sent to the border.

BJP MLA BP Harish, who had raised the issue in the House, said retired soldiers continue to face delays even in the basic processing of their applications.

He pointed out that in response to his question regarding the allotment of land or sites to retired soldiers in Davanagere district, the government had stated that 328 applications had been received so far, but none had been either accepted or rejected.

“The applications of former soldiers have not been considered for the past three years. They have neither been accepted nor rejected. It is painful because this concerns soldiers who protect our country. Revenue Department officials are not responding to their applications," Harish said.

He added that while the government is supposed to allot four to five acres of land to retired soldiers, the process has not moved forward.

“They are asking for sites, but authorities are identifying land in hilly and forest areas. Do soldiers deserve this? When a soldier becomes a martyr, people from the entire region gather to pay their respects. Their needs should also be taken care of with the same respect," he said.

Harish said the issue is not limited to Davanagere but affects retired soldiers across the state.

“If retired, injured or martyred soldiers are to be allotted land, the government should purchase suitable land and allot it to them. Instead, officers are marking land in hilly areas, which is very painful and unjust," he said.

He also argued that soldiers should be allotted sites in district and taluk centres instead of remote locations.

“They are forced to visit government offices and even come to my house seeking help. It is painful to see this," he said, adding that some of the lands identified are located in hilly regions where wild animals roam.

“The identified land is on hills, and soldiers are being given sites in places where leopards and bears roam. Is this not wrong?" he asked.

Responding to the concerns, Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the government would examine whether the identified land is suitable.

“We will certainly verify whether the identified land is appropriate. We have to allot land from available government land. It may not always be possible to provide sites in urban centres," he said.

Vishwanath also pointed out that 14 acres of land had been earmarked for soldiers at Gantakanahalli near Bengaluru, but the allotment has still not been completed.

“Today they are protesting in front of the taluk office. Some of them are protesting in uniform and some are physically disabled. The land is available but has not been allotted. I request the government to proceed with the allotments. Otherwise, it will bring a bad name to the government," he said.

News politics 'What Happened To The 2015 Promise': BJP Targets Karnataka Govt Over New Land Pledge To Soldiers

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