Congress padayatra disrupts traffic in Bengaluru, irks HC

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday expressed its anguish at the way political rallies were disrupting traffic and troubling road users in Bengaluru after some judges were also stuck in the Congress party's rally over Mekedatu project.

The second leg of the padayatra culminated at the National College grounds on Thursday. The party had organised a padayatra to demand speedy implementation of a multi-purpose reservoir at Mekedatu to provide drinking water to Bengaluru and surrounding villages.

A division bench consisting of chief justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and justice SR Krishnakumar asked the government not to allow any rallies and protests on the city's roads and ensure they are confined to the Freedom Park.


This is the second time the Congress party has come under fire from the court. The party had begun a 10-day padayatra from Mekedatu to Bengaluru in January to press for the dam but suspended the programme mid-way after it drew the high court’s ire in view of the surge in Covid-19 cases. The police had booked the Congress leaders for flouting the Covid-19 guidelines.