Padayatra Day 2: FIR against 30 Congress leaders
Cases registered for violation of Covid rules & prohibitory orders; HM hints at stopping yatra before Bengaluru entry.
Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT
Bengaluru: The Opposition Congress padayatra demanding implementation of the Mekedatu reservoir project across the Cauvery river entered the second day on Monday, even as the police booked senior party leaders including former CM Siddaramiah and KPCC President DK Shivakumar for taking out the protest defying Covid-19 curbs. FIRs have been registered against nearly 30 Congress leaders.
The FIRs have been filed against Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, Bengaluru Rural MP DK Suresh and several other prominent leaders at Sathanur police station. The cases have been registered for violation of COVID rules and prohibitory orders, under the Disaster Management Act and sections of the IPC.
However, Congress leaders and workers are continuing their march for the second day today, and are scheduled to cover a distance of about 15 km from Shivakumar’s native place, Doddalahalli to Kanakapura.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, hitting out at Congress leaders for continuing their march, said the law will take its course. Speaking to reporters here, he said, anybody who violates the law will face action. “Further action will automatically follow with the case registered. ….there will be no differentiation. However big a leader is, action will be taken in accordance with the law,” he added. The 10-day padayatra with the theme ‘Namma Neeru Namma Hakku’ (Our water, Our right) that began at Sangama, the confluence of Cauvery and Arkavathi rivers at Kanakapura in Ramanagara district on Sunday under the leadership of Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, will be spanning a distance of nearly 139 km. Siddaramaiah, who returned to the city from the padayatra last evening due to fever, is likely to participate in the march from Tuesday.
“Everything is left to the Ramanagara district administration, if there is any violation, whether by Congressnmen or anyone else action will be taken,” he said. Asked whether the police and government who take action against common people are feeling helpless in acting against politicians, the Minister replied in the negative.
To a question on why the government didn’t act to stop the march, despite knowing about the large gathering of people much in advance, Jnanendra said, “we felt that as a responsible political party, the Congress may take a decision in the interest of people but they did not.” Replying to a question as to whether the march would be prevented from entering Bengaluru, the Home Minister said: “Bengaluru is witnessing a spike by reporting nearly 10,000 cases, in such a situation, protecting the life of people is the government’s priority,” he added