KPCC chief DK Shivakumar dared Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to arrest the elected representatives and religious leaders attending the flagging off ceremony of the 10-day padayatra of the Congress party that took off at Mekedatu on Sunday.
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The Congress party which is leading the 160-km padayatra from Sangam to Bengaluru despite the weekend lockdown imposed by the state government owing to the spike in the COVID-19 cases contended that the COVID-19 restrictions were imposed by the BJP government to scuttle the padayatra.
"Mr CM, you are the son of a farmer and represent the people of this state. But you have instructed your officers to arrest us. I dare you to arrest me, Mr Kharge, Mr Siddaramaiah and 200 elected representatives, the pontiffs who are here today. Let me remind you this is the Kannada flag and nobody dares touch it," said Shivakumar, adding that the padayatra demanding the implementation of the Mekedatu project was not for power or politics but the welfare of the people.
The padayatra that commenced at Sangam in Kanakapura taluk, saw senior Congress leaders - leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and leader of the opposition in Assembly Siddaramaiah beating the drums to announce the opening of the event, amidst a huge gathering.
Even after the state government had issued notices (through the district administration) to the Congress leaders to call off the padayatra owing to the pandemic situation in the state, the Congress leaders declared that the "Walk for water" would go on even if they were to be jailed for flouting the COVID-19 norms.
Earlier, Kharge hailed the padayatra and said it had the support of the people as the Mekedatu project would provide drinking water to Bengaluru and neighbouring districts, besides 400 MW of hydel power. "The BJP government is trying to scuttle the padayatra as they fear the Congress party will take all the credit when the project gets implemented," said Kharge.
Siddaramaiah claimed that the party had decided to hold the padayatra two months back and the BJP had betrayed the people of Karnataka by causing inordinate delay in implementing the project.
"There is no stay either in the Supreme Court or the NGT as the Tamil Nadu's petitions (objecting to the project) have been dismissed. But the BJP government in Karnataka has failed to secure environmental clearance from the Centre, which is holding up the project as they want to expand their political constituency in Tamil Nadu. BJP's water resources minister Govind Kajol is giving false information. The project was initiated during my tenure as the chief minister and DPR was submitted to the Centre," said Siddaramaiah adding that the Mekedatu dam project would benefit both the states as it would tap and store only the surplus water flowing into the Arabian sea.
"Modi claims there is a double-engine government. But it has helped little to get environmental clearance for a project that can provide drinking water to Bengaluru, where more than 30% of the population has no access to Cauvery water. The project will take care of the drinking water needs of the global city like Bengaluru for the next 50 years."
Despite the ban on rallies and protests owing to the surge in COVID-19 cases, the Congress party has decided to go ahead with the padayatra which will culminate in Bengaluru on January 19.
On Sunday, the first stretch of the padayatra from Sangam to Dodda Alahalli (native village of Kanakapura MLA D. K. Shivakumar) was spruced up with colourful lights, banners and cutouts. After the district administration imposed prohibitory order in Ramanagara district, ordered the hotels, lodges and resorts to shut down during the weekend lockdown, the Congress leaders led by Bengaluru rural MP D. K. Suresh set up community kitchens and toilet blocks and resting tents along the Padayatra route. At least ten medical teams with 100 doctors have been deployed to attend to medical emergencies. The Congress volunteers stationed themselves at the petrol bunks to provide free petrol to the locals and party workers joining the padayatra. The Congress party supporters from neighbouring Mandya, Mysuru and Chamrajnagar are expected to join the padayatra in the coming days.
While Home Minister Araga Jnanendra reiterated that action would be initiated against anyone who flouts the COVID-19 guidelines, Bommai slammed the Congress leaders for their "irresponsible behaviour".
"If only the opposition had taken note of the SC and Tribunal orders, they would not be taking out rallies. But they are only interested in playing politics. They accuse the BJP of delays, but it took four years for the previous Congress government to prepare the DPR. The ones violating the COVID-19 norms will face action," said Bommai.
