Mekedatu padayatra in city today, BBMP says no to valedictory event

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

As the Congress padayatra demanding implementation of a balancing reservoir project at Mekedatu rolls into the city Tuesday morning, the stage is set for a confrontation between the ruling BJP and Opposition Congress with the BBMP denying permission to hold the valedictory function of the padayatra on March 3.

KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar told media that permission had been denied for the mega function at National College Grounds in the city. “We are determined to hold our function come what may. Let them arrest and put us in jail. We are not afraid of such arm twisting tactics by the government which is stung by the success of our yatra.

Our fight is for the people, it’s not personal or political”. The Congress leader sought to know how the government gives permission for some events and denies it for others. Meanwhile the authorities announced massive traffic diversions in view of the yatra entering the city, mainly on the Mysuru-Bengaluru road.