Cong Padayatra enters Udupi: KPCC chief hopes voters will 'correct their mistake'
Inchara Udupi
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Feb 1: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Dr G Parameshwar, said that the voters of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts have realized the mistake they committed during the last election.
“I have come to this conclusion after witnessing the huge support the people have been extending to the Padayatra organized by the Congress,” he explained.
He was speaking to mediapersons when the Padayatra, which commenced its onward journey from Bappanadu Goddess Durgaparameshwari Temple in Mulky on Thursday January 30 morning, was on its way. The Padayatra reached Kaup in the evening.
He said that his party had planned this Padayatra to restore mutual trust and harmony among the people, which stood disturbed because of the mistakes committed by the BJP government.
When questioned by reporters about the challenge posed by deputy Chief Minister (DCM), K S Eshwarappa, to the Congress to move no confidence motion if they are confident of toppling the government, he said it was unbecoming of the DCM to throw such challenges.
“He should properly understand law and parliamentary procedures. We have 71 MLAs, and hence do not have the numbers to move this motion. If the BJP, which has been reduced to minority, is so confident of its strength, it should prove its majority on the floor of the assembly. We are prepared to face the challenge. Let the BJP dissolve the government and face election. We will give them a fitting reply,” he said.
Parameshwar reiterated that Congress will consider only those persons who have filed applications seeking their candidatures for being fielded in the ensuing election, and that the deadline of January 31 for interested candidates stands. Responding on the issue of inflation and price rise, he said that all the state governments ruled by the Congress had brought down state taxes on diesel when the diesel price was hiked, but blamed Karnataka government of failing to address this issue by taking suitable action.
Congress stalwarts like B Janardhan Poojary, opposition leader in the assembly, Siddaramaiah, C M Ibrahim, opposition leader in the legislative council, S R Patil, MLAs, K Abhaychandra Jain and Gopal Bhandary, MP, K Jayaprakash Hegde, former minister, Vasant V Salian, M A Gafoor, Pratapchandra Shetty, Pramod Madhwaraj, Sarasu D BVangera, Ramanath Rai, Kaup Diwakar Shetty, Navinchandra Suvarna, and others were present.
About 2,000 persons participated in the Padayatra. It created traffic snarls at several places on its route. Food and other arrangements were made for the participants at Yermal.