Opposition leader R Ashoka and former CMs Basavaraj Bommai (left) and BS Yediyurappa (right) at the start of the march in Lingasugur
Originally announced to protest the Valmiki development corporation scam and BJP’s demand for B Nagendra’s resignation as minister, the campaign was later widened to cover broader charges against the govt.
Vijayendra said the padayatra would conclude on Sep 10 but BJP’s agitation would continue, adding that the campaign had already forced the resignation of a minister and marked the start of a new phase for the party in Karnataka.
BJP had earlier said JD(S) would join the protest and Union minister HD Kumaraswamy would inaugurate the padayatra. Calling the padayatra “the voice of the aspirations of six crore Kannadigas,” Yediyurappa accused the Congress govt of being “anti-women, anti-farmer and anti-development”, and claimed CM DK Shivakumar lacked the strength to govern independently. Bommai described the march as the “first step” in BJP’s fight for the people, while Shettar called B Nagendra’s resignation as minister as the “party’s first victory”. Former minister B Sriramulu said the govt was disconnected from ordinary people, law and order had deteriorated, and farmers were being forced to migrate.
Former chief minister BS Yediyurappa sounded the bugle at a public meeting attended by state president BY Vijayendra, former chief ministers Basavaraj Bommai and Jagadish Shettar, opposition leader R Ashoka, and opposition leader in the council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, besides several MPs and MLAs. The meeting opened with a farmers’ song and drew thousands of party workers and farmers from across the state. No explanation was offered by either side for the coalition partner’s absence. Narayanaswamy alleged the govt had failed to build toilets and misappropriated central funds, branding it anti-youth and anti-Dalit.