Siddu: Why ban orders only in Ramanagar?

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah has slammed the imposition of prohibitory orders in Ramanagar district claiming that it indicated the state government’s plot to stop the Mekedatu padayatra at any cost.

“We will definitely go on the padayatra from tomorrow. Let the government take any action they want against us. We are ready to face it”, he told media persons here on Saturday.

The Congress leader said they would undertake the padayatra strictly following Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB). “The dates for our padayatra were decided nearly two months ago. The government all of a sudden has imposed a week-end curfew in the state and Section 144 in Ramanagar district. Why not for other districts? Is it not a vindictive move? This has been done only to scuttle the rally. They have gone to the extent of closing down all resorts, hotels and lodges in Ramanagara district to deny us accommodation facilities”.

The former CM wondered what the BJP government which came to power two and a half years ago, had done on the Mekedatu issue? Current CM Basavaraj Bommai was Water Resources Minister in the previous Yediyurappa government but still the project was not implemented. Neither the Supreme Court nor the Green Tribunal have said no to the project. Since the BJP is in power both in the state and at the Centre, it would be easy for Karnataka to get permission. Unfortunately, BJP leaders have not put pressure on the Central government to give the green signal for the project.

Siddaramaiah said he did not know whether the government would permit the padayatra or arrest them. ‘’When an assembly of more than five persons is prohibited, why do we need permission for 15 persons to assemble?’’ he quipped.