Congress Activists Reach Bellary's Outskirts, Gear up for Public Meet

Bangalore, Aug 8 (IANS): Braving fatigue and blisters, hundreds of Congress activists late Sunday reached the outskirts of Bellary, covering a distance of 320 km from Bangalore on foot to muster the people's support against Karnataka's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for its "failure to check illegal mining" and other issues.

The Congress launched the long march, billed as 'Nada Rakshana Nadige' (Walk to save Karnataka), July 25 mainly to take on the BJP ministers and mine barons, the Reddy brothers, over their alleged illegal mining of iron ore.

As the march progressed, the party turned it to an exercise to mobilise people against the BJP government's "failure on all fronts, including failure to check illegal mining".

The marchers will reach Bellary city Monday morning and will hold a public meeting in the afternoon.

The party is expecting up to 400,000 people to attend the public meeting, Diwakar Babu, former minister and Bellary district Congress chief, told reporters in Bellary Sunday.

The marchers, led by Leader of Opposition in the assembly Siddaramiah, state Congress chief R.V. Deshpande, working president D.K. Shivakumar and Leader of the Opposition in council Motamma, walked 20 km a day to cover the 320 km in 16 days.

The Reddys - Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy, his elder brother Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy, younger G. Somashekara Reddy, a legislator, and their associate Health Minister B. Sriramlu launched a counter march within Bellary, termed 'Swabhimani yatre' (Bellary dignity march).

They continue the march despite disapproval by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa. After a break Monday to avoid clash with Congress rally, they will resume the march Tuesday and continue till Aug 20 when the party will hold a public meeting.

Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, whom the Reddy brothers and Sriramulu calls as their 'thayi' (mother) will attend the Aug 20 rally.