Bengaluru, June 27 (AHN) The political face-off between Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy and Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar over the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township Project at Bidadi, coming up near Bengaluru, took a dramatic turn on Saturday, with Kumaraswamy reserving an empty chair for the Chief Minister at a public meeting and inviting him to an open dialogue before the affected villagers.

The symbolic gesture came after Kumaraswamy had written two letters inviting Shivakumar for a public debate on the township project in the affected region.

The Chief Minister, however, had invited Kumaraswamy and five representatives to meet him at Vidhana Soudha instead.

However, when asked about the development, Chief Minister Shivakumar, refused to take the question in Bengaluru and walked away.

Kumaraswamy attended a public meeting at Bhyramangala village near Bidadi, on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

An empty chair bearing the name of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was placed next to Kumaraswamy's seat on the dais.

Talking to media, Kumaraswamy alleged that Shivakumar lacked the moral courage to participate in a public debate.

"I have come here with all the courage. The discussion should take place before the people. Why should I go elsewhere? Under no circumstances will the Chief Minister come here because he cannot face the people," he said.

Clarifying that his intention was not to force the Chief Minister onto the streets, Kumaraswamy said the dialogue should be held in front of the farmers, women and elders who had supported public representatives over the years.

"I have come here to honour the people who have been protesting against the project for more than 460 days. If the Chief Minister truly respects them and the people of the state, he should come here and hold a debate. Issuing statements against me from a distant place is not appropriate," he added.

The Union Minister added that he was prepared to hold discussions with genuine farmers at any time.

Responding to allegations that reserving an empty chair for the Chief Minister was merely a political drama, Kumaraswamy said he was fully aware that Shivakumar would not attend.

"If he knew he (D.K. Shivakumar) would not come here, why did he write to me inviting me to Vidhana Soudha? The discussion should take place before the aggrieved people," he added.

Taking a swipe at the Chief Minister, Kumaraswamy said that Shivakumar was attending a programme to plant 15 lakh saplings while the state government was preparing to cut nearly 10 lakh trees for the township project.

"I am not instigating the farmers' agitation. They are protesting because they want to protect their ancestral lands," he added.

Kumaraswamy also appealed to the Chief Minister to set aside his ego and listen to the concerns of the protesting farmers.

"The farmers and women of Bidadi have been agitating for around 480 days to protect their ancestral lands. I urge the Chief Minister to abandon his ego and respond to their concerns," he said.

Reacting to the development, senior Congress MLA H.C. Balakrishna, a close aide of Chief Minister Shivakumar, said the Chief Minister would not participate in a public debate.

"Under no circumstances will Chief Minister Shivakumar attend such a discussion. He has never agreed to a public debate. Their intention is different. They want to create unrest and provoke violence in the region," Balakrishna alleged.

He also alleged, "This is ridiculous. If Chief Minister Shivakumar had agreed to participate, he should have arranged the meeting. Had Kumaraswamy simply gone to Vidhana Soudha, it would have appeared as though he had gone there merely to stage a drama. There is no difference in the subject of discussion, whether the meeting is held at Vidhana Soudha or at Bhyramangala, the affected region. The intention here is only to bring disrepute to Chief Minister Shivakumar."

"Let the issue be debated in the media. Kumaraswamy is free to come with 10 or even more people. Chief Minister Shivakumar cannot participate in a public debate. It is also not true that all farmers are opposing the project or refusing land acquisition. When the final notification was issued for certain villages on a pilot basis, around 75 per cent of the landowners came forward to part with their land and accept the compensation," Balakrishna said.

Meanwhile, a group of farmers confronted those opposing the proposed Bidadi Township Project, claiming that they were in favour of the project.

Raising slogans, they demanded that Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy be brought before them so that they could present their views directly to him.

Security has been tightened at the spot following the volatile situation.