Karnataka CM Shivakumar takes dig at BJP's padayatra, says Congress will plan counter strategy

Bengaluru: Taking a dig at the BJP for organising a padayatra to protest the alleged failures of the Congress government, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said the ruling party will plan a counter strategy against it.

He said that the BJP organising such programmes benefits Congress because it provides an opportunity to counter the opposition.

The Karnataka BJP on Tuesday launched a 10-day foot march from Lingasugur in Raichur district to Ballari to protest the alleged failures of the Congress government.


"They are doing padayatra, good, it is good. They are giving opportunities to us. If they do padayatra it is good. Our party will plan a counter strategy. Our party is no less. Our party got freedom for this country with its agitations; when our party got freedom for the country, they (BJP) did not exist," Shivakumar said in response to a question by reporters here.

The 'Ballari Chalo' foot march will condemn the alleged failures, anti-people policies and corruption of the Congress government, BJP leaders have said.

The march will highlight issues concerning women, youth and farmers, demand justice for the Valmiki community and protest against a series of alleged scandals under the Congress government, they said.

The approximately 185-km march will begin with a public rally in Lingasugur and pass through Maski, Sindhanur, Karatagi, Gangavathi, Kampli, Sandur and Ballari Rural constituencies before concluding in Ballari city, according to the party.

On the drought situation, the chief minister said the state government has declared 101 taluks as drought-affected, and the ground-truthing process is on regarding other affected taluks.

"We are getting reports and doing it because we will have to defend it before the central government. To ensure there are no technical faults we are examining things very clearly," he said.

Stating that there were complaints from Gadag regarding certain taluks not being declared as drought-affected and related issues, Shivakumar said, "So I'm going personally. I will also be going to Bagalkot."

"There is no need for anyone to worry. We will very honestly examine all those places that are affected by drought. Even my own Kanakapura taluk has not been declared. There are certain rules by the central government and as per those rules, the revenue department, agriculture and other concerned departments will examine and declare drought. Everyone should have patience," he added.

Reacting to a question on the FIR registered against senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the CM termed the move as "purely political."

"What wrong has Rahul Gandhi done? It is condemnable. He is fighting for the younger generation and the country. It is his duty to fight for the cause of people, it is his right. It is not only the birthright; it is a constitutional right. We all stand by him," he added.

The FIR was registered against Gandhi on Saturday following a complaint by a member of the Valmiki community in Uttarakhand's Haldwani, alleging that the Congress leader gave a casteist spin to a "religious ritual" at a recent press conference.