Congress padayatra: Two leaders test positive

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: The third day of the Congress padayatra seeking implementation of the Mekedatu project got a major boost with former CM and Congress Legislature Party Leader Siddaramaiah joining the rally with a host of supporters on Tuesday.

Siddaramaiah, had returned to Bengaluru after walking four km on the first day of the padayatra, after he experienced fatigue. He met the doctor following mild fever and took rest for the whole day on Monday.

On Tuesday, he accompanied KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar in the padayatra which started from Veerabhadreshwara Temple in Kanakapura Town. Dressed in a blue cotton shirt, white dhoti, a blue coloured cap and hand gloves, Siddaramaiah acknowledged the cheers of his supporters. After walking around 14 km, they halted at Chikkenahalli village where special air conditioned tents have been put up for for the night halt of leaders.

Another FIR

Meanwhile, another First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against 41 Congress leaders making Shivakumar Accused No 1 and Bengaluru Rural MP D.K.Suresh Accused No 2 on the basis of a report given by the tahsildar of Kanakapura regarding the violation of Covid rules by Congress leaders. On Monday, the first FIR was filed by Sathanur Police against 30 leaders for breach of week-end curfew rules.

Two test positive Former minister H.M.Revanna and Congress MLC C.M. Ibrahim have tested positive. Revanna had attended the inauguration of the padayatra at Sangama on Sunday while Ibrahim had taken part in a meeting convened by Siddaramaiah in Kanakapura on Saturday in connection with the padayatra. Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Minister K.S.Eshwarappa slammed Congress leaders for their audacity in taking up a padayatra at a time when there is a steady rise in Corona cases in the State. He demanded stern action against Congress leaders for their scant respect of Covid rules.

Higher Education Minister Dr C.N. Ashwath Narayana attacked the padayatra saying that it was aimed at spreading the Covid virus among people. The state government would show its commitment by taking up the Mekedatu project after obtaining permission from all departments, he said.

Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K. Sudhakar flayed Shivakumar for doubting Covid statistics and wanted him to prove his allegation with documents instead of making vague statements. The Congress leader must seek an apology for his callous statement failing which legal action would be initiated. “It is unbecoming on the part of Shivakumar to claim that the government is making money by increasing the number of Corona positive cases.

The KPCC President is trying to portray the government as ‘Covid positive’. Making ‘baseless’ allegations at at a time when the epidemic has gripped the state is unacceptable. Shivakumar must support his charges with valid documents or tender an apology in public”.