BENGALURU: The Congress on Sunday resumed its padayatra to seek early implementation of the Mekedatu reservoir, a drinking water project.
Titled ‘Namma Neeru Namma Hakku’ (Our Water, Our Right), the 140km padayatra was launched at Sangama, the confluence of Cauvery and Arkavathi rivers in Ramanagara district, on January 9. It was scheduled to conclude in Bengaluru on January 19.
But with Covid-19 cases surging, Congress was forced to suspend the march on January 13 after the government restricted movement of people. The high court too had made strong observations regarding violation of curbs and cases were booked against many Congressmen.
Covid-induced protocols are still in force, but the Ramanagara administration district after much cajoling, heeded Congress’ request to resume the walk on the promise that participants will follow health protocols.
On Sunday, hundreds of party workers joined the march, which got off to a delayed start from Ramanagara town. Randeep Singh Surjewala, AICC general secretary, inaugurated the padayatra by beating drums even as state party brass, including DK Shivakumar, KPCC president, and Siddaramaiah, opposition leader, put on a united show. Chants of ‘Vande Mataram’ for rent the air.
KPCC general secretary Syed Hussein was the cynosure as he walked with two pots of water from Sangama on his shoulders. The participants reached Bidadi by the evening, covering a distance of 16km on the first day.
In his inaugural address, Surjewala accused the state government of being “an obstacle in the path of people’s right to water”. “Hopefully, our walk for water will be a success,” he said.
Siddaramaiah said “dou- ble engine” BJP governments at the state and Center had not brought promised benefits. “They failed to get environment and forest clearance from the Centre, despite their own party ruling there,” he said. “Tamil Nadu is opposing this project politically and not with any court order in hand. If the project is not started, it will be a betrayal for the people of the state. ” Calling the march “historical”, Shivakumar said: “This is not our struggle. This is a struggle for the lives of the people. ,
While Congress has projected the march as apolitical, analysts see it as an attempt to mobilize its cadres and consolidate votes in the old Mys- uru region. Much is at stake for Shivakumar, the muscle behind the march. Some functionaries say it is his attempt to assert his chief ministerial ambitions ahead of assembly polls. There has been friction between him and Siddaramaiah on that score.
Both BJP and JD(S) have called the march a “political stunt” and have accused Congress of not putting in any effort to take the project forward while in power.
The padayatra will culminate at National College grounds in Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, on March 3 after covering about 140km and about 15 assembly constituencies over nine days.
Titled ‘Namma Neeru Namma Hakku’ (Our Water, Our Right), the 140km padayatra was launched at Sangama, the confluence of Cauvery and Arkavathi rivers in Ramanagara district, on January 9. It was scheduled to conclude in Bengaluru on January 19.
But with Covid-19 cases surging, Congress was forced to suspend the march on January 13 after the government restricted movement of people. The high court too had made strong observations regarding violation of curbs and cases were booked against many Congressmen.
Covid-induced protocols are still in force, but the Ramanagara administration district after much cajoling, heeded Congress’ request to resume the walk on the promise that participants will follow health protocols.
On Sunday, hundreds of party workers joined the march, which got off to a delayed start from Ramanagara town. Randeep Singh Surjewala, AICC general secretary, inaugurated the padayatra by beating drums even as state party brass, including DK Shivakumar, KPCC president, and Siddaramaiah, opposition leader, put on a united show. Chants of ‘Vande Mataram’ for rent the air.
KPCC general secretary Syed Hussein was the cynosure as he walked with two pots of water from Sangama on his shoulders. The participants reached Bidadi by the evening, covering a distance of 16km on the first day.
In his inaugural address, Surjewala accused the state government of being “an obstacle in the path of people’s right to water”. “Hopefully, our walk for water will be a success,” he said.
Siddaramaiah said “dou- ble engine” BJP governments at the state and Center had not brought promised benefits. “They failed to get environment and forest clearance from the Centre, despite their own party ruling there,” he said. “Tamil Nadu is opposing this project politically and not with any court order in hand. If the project is not started, it will be a betrayal for the people of the state. ” Calling the march “historical”, Shivakumar said: “This is not our struggle. This is a struggle for the lives of the people. ,
While Congress has projected the march as apolitical, analysts see it as an attempt to mobilize its cadres and consolidate votes in the old Mys- uru region. Much is at stake for Shivakumar, the muscle behind the march. Some functionaries say it is his attempt to assert his chief ministerial ambitions ahead of assembly polls. There has been friction between him and Siddaramaiah on that score.
Both BJP and JD(S) have called the march a “political stunt” and have accused Congress of not putting in any effort to take the project forward while in power.
The padayatra will culminate at National College grounds in Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, on March 3 after covering about 140km and about 15 assembly constituencies over nine days.
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