Bengaluru, Aug 25 (IANS) The Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will undertake a 200‑km padayatra from Raichur to Ballari between September 1 and 10 to highlight what it calls the failures of the Congress government in the state, BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra said on Tuesday.
Addressing the media at the BJP state headquarters, Jagannatha Bhavan, in Bengaluru, Vijayendra said the padayatra would focus on the government’s alleged neglect of development, problems faced by farmers, lack of welfare schemes for people with low incomes, failure to create employment opportunities, implementation of reservation, issues concerning North Karnataka and the government’s alleged lack of interest in filling vacant posts.
The padayatra will begin in Raichur on September 1 and conclude in Ballari after covering around 200 km. Union ministers are expected to participate in both the inaugural and concluding programmes, he said.
“We have decided to undertake the 10‑day padayatra to expose the anti‑poor, anti‑farmer and anti‑youth policies of the government and create awareness among the people,” Vijayendra said.
He added that while the BJP was organising the padayatra, Janata Dal (United) leaders, including Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy, would extend their support to the programme.
Vijayendra accused the Congress government of adjourning the Assembly session sine die without allowing adequate discussion on pressing issues facing the state. He said the BJP had demanded before the session that Minister for Planning and Statistics B. Nagendra, who is facing allegations in connection with the Valmiki Corporation scam, be dropped from the Cabinet and that opposition members be allowed to raise issues concerning the people.
However, the government shortened the session instead of allowing discussions on issues such as the drought situation, alleged irregularities in KPSC recruitment, government appointments, problems in North Karnataka, the Bidadi Township project and the NICE project, he alleged.
“If these issues had been discussed, the government’s failures would have been exposed. Fearing this, the Chief Minister has run away by curtailing the session,” Vijayendra alleged.
Referring to the Valmiki Corporation scam, he said an official named Chandrashekhar, who belonged to the Bhovi community, had died by suicide and that his death note referred to the transfer of funds allegedly on the oral instructions of a minister.
He claimed that the previous Chief Minister had acknowledged that a scam had taken place and that Minister for Excise K.M. Shivalinge Gowda had also described Nagendra as an accused in the case.
Vijayendra further alleged that the government had failed to provide adequate time in the Assembly to discuss the cancellation of BPL cards, non‑payment of old‑age and Sandhya Suraksha pensions and shortcomings in welfare schemes. “The government has wasted the time of the Assembly by not allowing discussions on issues concerning the people,” he said.
He also alleged that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s priorities were focused on real estate projects rather than governance. “Bidadi Township, the proposed Kanakapura airport and the NICE project are all related to real estate, and the Chief Minister is interested in these matters. Now, there are attempts to take over park land as well,” he alleged.
Vijayendra accused the government of a “double standard,” promoting tree plantation on one hand while allegedly encouraging real estate development on the other.
He said Shivakumar had shown considerable enthusiasm when he became Chief Minister but had “lost momentum” after more than two months in office. He criticised the delay in Cabinet expansion and portfolio allocation, claiming dissatisfaction had emerged within the ministry and that former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was also unhappy with the developments.
The BJP also released a poster outlining the route of the proposed padayatra.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, former Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan, former ministers B. Sriramulu and Gali Janardhana Reddy and other party leaders were present.
–IANS
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