The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Congress to finalise schedule for padayatra today

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Monday, Jul 19, 2010
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Congress to finalise schedule for padayatra today

Special Correspondent

Party non-committal on including JD (S) in the padayatra
15-day padayatra to culminate in a meeting in Bellary

BANGALORE: The political situation in the State is hotting up as the countdown has begun for the tussle between the Opposition and the Government over illegal mining issue — that started as an indefinite dharna in the legislature — to snowball into a public movement.

The Opposition Congress is all set to announce the date for launching its 320-km padayatra from Bangalore to Bellary to create public awareness about its demand for a CBI probe into illegal mining and sacking of Bellary Ministers on Monday, even as Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa firmly stuck to his stand that there is no need for a CBI probe. He also hinted that he would make a formal request to the Lokayukta to commence a comprehensive inquiry into illegal mining in the State.

The stage appears to be set for a political showdown as the Opposition is poised to take the protest to the home district of Bellary Ministers, who are also into mining, and the Bellary Ministers have responded to this by declaring that they are ready for the “challenge”.

After a day-long meeting with Congress leaders, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president R.V. Deshpande announced that the contours of the padayatra had been shaped and that the dates would be finalised in consultation with some senior leaders on Monday. He said the 15-day padayatra would culminate in a public meeting in Bellary after passing through the districts of Bangalore City, Urban, Bangalore Rural, Tumkur and Chitradurga. The leaders would cover 20 km a day in addition to holding two public meetings.

But there was no clarity on whether the Congress would also include the Opposition Janata Dal (Secular) in its padayatra as its leaders remained non-committal on the issue. While Mr. Deshpande said that “It is not me who has to decide on inviting the JD (S) to padayatra”.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa who had camped in Delhi for the last two days to meet the Union Home Minister and party top leaders, returned to Bangalore on Sunday evening.

The Bellary Ministers who surprised everybody by making a visit to Delhi have said that they would reply to the Opposition's charges on Monday.

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