BBMP targeting our banners, not of BJP: DK

NT Correspondent

Taking strong exception to the removal of banners of the Congress padayatra by the police and BBMP officials in Bengaluru city, KPCC President D.K.Shivakumar has warned of similar action by his party workers who may take out the banners of BJP leaders including former CM B.S.Yediyurappa.

Talking to reporters here on Tuesday morning, Shivakumar said cops have prevented Congress leaders from joining the ongoing padayatra which entered the state capital Monday night. The law is equal for everyone and there must not be any discrimination. The police have booked several cases against Congress leaders to prevent them from fighting against the state government.

“The BJP workers had put up banners and flexes across the city to wish leaders like Yediyurappa, Dr.C.N. Ashwath Narayana and V. Somanna on their birthdays. A flex on the CM’s programme has been put up in Bommanahalli. Who gave permission to put them up? Is the law not applicable for them? The BBMP commissioner should change the BBMP board and make it ‘BJP Office,’’ he quipped.

The Congress leader said BBMP officers remove banners and flex boards put up by party workers the very next day. So, they have decided to float banners in the sky with the help of balloons. This cannot be prevented by the BBMP, he said adding the government has totally failed to come out with a policy on advertisement hoardings.

Appealing to Congress workers to use Namma Metro instead of private vehicles to avoid traffic congestion in Bengaluru City, Shivakumar said an opportunity will be given to everybody to walk for the cause on the final day on March 3 before the culmination of the padayatra at National College Grounds.

Asked about Water Resources Minister Govind Karjol’s concern that the padayatra would lead to a setback for Karnataka in the Supreme Court, Shivakumar said the CM has clarified that there would be no hurdle for the project.