Karnataka Congress leaders on Sunday set off from Bangalore for a 320 km padayatra which would culminate on August 9, the Quit India Movement Day, in Bellary.
According to the Congress, the rally is aimed to pressurise the BJP government to order an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the mining of iron ore, but political observers believe that it is a response to a challenge thrown by Tourism Minister Gali Janardhana Reddy who had dared the main opposition party to step into Bellary.
The participants in the padayatra will travel about 20 km per day and reach Bellary after a fortnight.
The Karnataka police is making elaborate security arrangements along the route of the padayatra, besides the 400 policemen accompanying the participants.
The Congress leadership said that a medical team will also accompany the yatris.
Earlier, opposition leader Siddaramaiah submitted a petition to state Governor H R Bhardwaj, stating that the Congress party is apprehensive of trouble by ruling BJP supporters.
After meeting Bhardwaj, Siddaramaiah said that the rally was aimed at creating awareness among the public of the failures of the BJP government, especially about the government's reluctance to act against 'those who are plundering the natural resources of the state with impunity.'
The BJP meanwhile has announced that it will conduct four rallies of its own across the state from August 2. According to the BJP, the rallies would highlight the party achievement during its two-year rule and the opposition party's 'anti-people, anti-development stance.'
Courtesy: INN
filed in:Siddaramaiah, Mining Scam, Gali Brothers, H R Bharadwaj, Corruption