Even as the Congress is undertaking a 10-day ‘padayatra’ in Karnataka demanding implementation of the Mekedatu project across the Cauvery river, party’s state president DK Shivakumar on late Sunday night called for COVID-19. 19 were seen refusing to test. The day was over.
Arguing with the district health officer who had come to collect his sample, Shivakumar said that he is ‘fit and fine, and does not require testing’. The leader further alleged that the health officials were acting on the instructions of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who had earlier organized a march and warned of action for violating the COVID norms.
“Ray mister, I am fit and fine,” he told the officer.
The Karnataka BJP on Sunday slammed the Congress for its Mekedatu padyatra and shared a purported video of state Congress chief DK Shivakumar coughing, calling the Congress a “superspreader”. Dam. He appears to be suffering from Covid-19 symptoms, but he is still interacting with Congress staff without a mask. Is he bent on increasing the number of corona cases? The official Twitter account of Karnataka BJP tweeted.
Led by Shivakumar and Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Siddaramaiah, the padyatra with the theme ‘Namma Neeru Namma Hakku’ (Our water, our right) began at the confluence of the Kaveri and Arkavati rivers at Kanakapura in Ramanagara district, and would be around 139 Will be spread over a distance of kilometers.
However, Siddaramaiah, who took part in the march earlier on Sunday, returned to Bengaluru after lunch due to fever, and is likely to return after his recovery, party sources told PTI.
With the participation of hundreds of activists, leaders and cultural groups, the major opposition party in the state remained unimpressed by warnings of government action in case of COVID restrictions and violation of rules. The government has imposed a weekend curfew and restricted public gatherings till January 19 to fight the surge in COVID-19 cases. It has also imposed a night curfew, and banned all rallies, dharnas and protests.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, former Chief Minister M Veerappa Moily, and many more
Senior party leaders and MLAs were present at the inauguration of the padyatra, which covered a distance of about 15 kms on the first day.
Some religious leaders and film personalities such as actor Duniya Vijay, actor and music director Sadhu Kokila, among others were seen at the inauguration of the padyatra demanding the implementation of the Mekadatu project, for which
Neighboring Tamil Nadu is opposing it. Presenting it as an apolitical “walk for water”, the Congress invited various monasteries, organisations, leaders of various political parties, film personalities and others from the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce to participate in the march. Is.
Accusing the BJP government of trying to disrupt the padyatra, Siddaramaiah during the inaugural address accused the ruling party of colluding with Tamil Nadu to delay the implementation of the Mekedatu project. Claiming that the project was initiated by the Congress government led by him, he alleged that the ruling BJP, despite being in power for the last 2.5 years, has cheated the people of the state by not giving environment clearance, and even Even the central government was accused of not giving it. The JP Nadda-led party wants to expand its base in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu.
Shivakumar, who is also an MLA from Kanakapura, hit out at the chief minister for trying to “fail” the padyatra by asking the district administration to issue prohibitory orders, challenging him to arrest him if he could. .
This march is not for Congress party or for power, it is for the people…. Like the Congress fought against the British, then today we are fighting against the BJP and Janata Dal for the independence of India. He said that his party leaders and workers will march peacefully following the COVID rules. Careful about the consequences of stern action like arrest or stopping of padyatra, that too on the emotional issue related to the interstate river dispute, the state government feels. Congress has decided to go “slow and soft” on its march in violation of its COVID restrictions.
Instead of behaving like a responsible opposition accusing him of playing politics over the Mekedatu issue, Bommai said, “A notice has been issued to him and the officials have personally advised him against it, but he has neglected it and moving forward. We will take action as per law.”
Further alleging that the Congress, while in power, made no effort to take the project forward, he reiterated that his government was committed to implementing the project.
The Congress march from Mekedatu to Bengaluru is scheduled to pass through Kanakapura, Ramanagara and Bidadi before ending at Basavanagudi in Bengaluru on January 19. It will cover about 15 of the 224 assembly constituencies in the state.
Although the padayatra is being projected politically, demanding the implementation of the Mekedatu project, it is also seen as an attempt by the Congress to mobilize its workers and strengthen its voter base in the old Mysore region, Which is a Vokkaliga stronghold, where the JD(S) is its traditional rival and the ruling BJP is trying to make inroads ahead of the 2023 assembly elections.
with PTI input
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