Bengaluru:  State government has slapped cases against KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and 28 Congress leaders for violating Covid norms during their padayatra from Mekedatu to Bengaluru demanding Mekedatu drinking water project.

Sathanuru police have registered a case against KPCC President and others for breaking Covid rules during Padayatra. It was attended by thousands of party workers but blatantly violated Covid rules. The majority of people who attended the Padayatra did not wear masks and did not maintain social distances.

Moreover, the State government has banned all types of public meetings, protests, padayatra, roadshows and rallies due to the surge in Covid cases.

The padayatra has entered the second day to Doddalahalli, a native of Mr. Shivakumar, today it will proceed to Kanakapura. Nine days of Padayatra will culminate in Bengaluru on January 17.

Mr. Shivakumar has sharply reacted to the state government decision of slapping cases against Congress leaders and workers. He asked the police that, why cases were registered against only 30 people, I will provide names and photos, let them file cases against all who attended the mega event at Sangama on Sunday, he challenged.

Mr. Shivakumar advised Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to put Congress leaders to jail. “ Mr. Bommai wants to see us in the jail, let him put us behind the bars”, Mr. Shivakumar said.

“I have not trimmed my beard, because BJP put me in Tihar jail.  You (voters) have to take care of my constituency, I cannot come and seek the votes, you voluntarily campaign on behalf of us. Both JD(S) and BJP trying to prevent our Padayatra, but we have committed to continue it and let them file a hundred cases against us, we will not afraid about cases”, Mr. Shivakumar said.  

Huge response fo Padayatra: Congress has received an overwhelming response for its Mekedatu Padayatra from the people. Both Congress workers and people have voluntarily joined the Padayatra and urged for the implementation of a drinking water scheme.

Due to tiredness and body pain, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah stopped Padayatra on the first day, after taking a rest he will join D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday morning in Kanakapura. Meanwhile, Mr. Shivakumar has enquired about the health of the Opposition leader and advised him to take a rest for a day.

All senior Congress leaders, AICC members, MLAs, MLCs, Congress office-bearers have joined the Padayatra.

But Congress leaders have failed to maintain social distance during walk. It was seen that a hundred of Congress workers have accompanied Mr. Shivakumar, even Mr. Shivakumar not wearing the mask.

BJP is on the back foot: Worried with the growing response for Padayatra, ruling BJP is trying to make an all-out attempt to downplay the Congress Padayatra for Mekedatu project. It has released two-page advertisements to all leading newspapers, blaming failures of the Congress in implementing detailed project reports for the project. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai held a back-to-back meeting with senior ministers to counter Congress allegations on Mekedatu.

Sources said that the state government is contemplating to prevent Congress leaders to enter Bengaluru on the concluding day of Padayatra, citing Covid reason.

Social media of ruling BJP is frequently uploading some pictures of padayatra, in which KPCC President Shivakumar has taken support of Congress leaders to walk.