Bangalore: Upping its ante against the BJP
Government in Karnataka over illegal mining issue, Opposition
Congress today said it would undertake a protest 'padayatra'
from here to Bellary after conclusion of on-going legislature
session.
The state Congress, which has been attacking Chief
Minister B S Yeddyurappa for his "failure" to curb illegal
mining, plans to rope in some of its top leaders, including
Rahul Gandhi, for the padayatra.
"At the end of the 15-20 day padayatra, a rally will be
held in Bellary," Congress leader Siddaramaiah told reporters
after he led an indefinite dharna in the House after his
demand for a CBI probe into "illegal" mining was turned down
by the government.
The planned stir comes in the backdrop of Tourism
Minister G Janardhana Reddy challenging the Opposition parties
to "dare visit Bellary to agitate and they will be taught a
lesson".
Siddaramaiah had responded that his party would stage a
protest in front of Reddy's house, one of the mining magnets
of the state.
Meanwhile senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes visited
the state assembly, where his party MLAs have been on a
night-long dharna and spoke to them.
Fernandes defended Congress demand for a CBI probe into
"illegal mining".
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, July 13, 2010, 09:56