Bengaluru, July 14 -- Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo HD Deve Gowda on Tuesday urged Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar not to "destroy the livelihood of the farmers" over the proposed Bidadi township project and called on him to withdraw the FIRs registered against protesting farmers.

Addressing the press conferences on the issue, Deve Gowda appealed to Shivakumar to reconsider the project, saying the livelihood of farmers should not be compromised.

"There are many other ways for you to fulfil your promises to the High Command. Don't destroy the livelihood of the farmers. Don't push me to sit with farmers and support them against the township project," he said.

The JD(S) patriarch also questioned Shivakumar'...