I’ll Handcuff Congress Leaders, says Reddy
Sandur (Bellary dt), Aug 8 (DHNS): As the Congress’ Banaglore-Bellary padayatra is nearing its destination, the political scene is hotting up in Bellary.
Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy on Saturday declared that he will “handcuff the Congress allegedly involved in illegal mining and take them on a parade till Bangalore once the Karnataka Lokayukta probe proves that they are guilty.”
Addressing a large gathering at Swabhimani Samavesha organised at Sandur, he alleged that many Congress leaders deserved to be handcuffed as they are looting iron ore in Bellary. “The Congress leaders are making use of money earned through illegal mining for politics for many years. They are making allegations of illegal mining against us (Reddy brothers) in order to cover up their misdeeds,” he charged.
For many Congress leaders, Reddy said, it will be the last padayatra. “All those (Congress leaders) who are involved in illegal mining will go to jail once the Lokayukta completes its investigation,” he stated.
Health Minister Sriramulu, who is leading the Samavesha, described the Congress leaders as “Kouravas”, while calling himself and his associates (Reddy brothers) as “Pandavas.” He further said: “Though Pandavas were humiliated and sent to vanavasa, it was finally Kouravas who perished."
Reddys, Sriramulu to stay away from Bellary during Cong meet
The Reddy brothers and Health Minister Sriramulu will stay away from Bellary on Monday, the day of Congress convention in the city.
Sources said the ministers had decided to move out of Bellary to deny Congress leaders an opportunity to blame them in case of any disturbance during the rally. The trio would come to Bangalore by Sunday and stay in the capital for two days.
They will return to Bellary only after the Congress event. The district administration has deployed 4,500 policemen to avoid any untoward incident.
The Congress marchers reached Rampura, the penultimate destination, Saturday evening. The last leg of the padayatra on Bangalore-Bellary State Highway will begin from Rampura on Sunday.
The stretch through which the Congress leaders are now proceeding is known for serial accidents in addition to the dust raised by movement of ore-laden trucks.
The vehicular density is so high that roads have been reduced to pot-holed stretch.
Share in mine booty
Speaking with reporters here on Saturday, Congress leader V S Ugrappa alleged that Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and other BJP leaders were receiving proceeds of mining booty.
He said while issue of permits is said to have been stopped, more than 8,000 trucks are transporting ore per day citing old permits.
Lokayukta can probe the illegal mining only within the State and has to obtain permission for inquiry in other states. Hence the probe should be handed over to CBI, he demanded.
Acupressure for sore legs
The Congress leaders writhing in pain with sore legs are being treated with acupressure. Dr T S Rajashekhar, a relative of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Deshpande said he treated more than 600 people including S Siddaramaiah, D K Shivakumar and others on Saturday.
The treatment, given during lunch break, has worked well, he claimed.
Congress Faces Test in Reddy-made Bastion
Congressmen participating in their padayatra from Bangalore are not only getting a rousing welcome all along the route but also having a gala time. But when they walk the 27-km stretch between Rampura and Halkundi on Sunday to enter Bellary district, the scene will be different.
It is going to be a tense moment for both padayatris and the police.
The Congress’ walkathon on this stretch has assumed significance not only because it will be one of the longest walks in a day in the last two weeks, but also pass through the controversial Obulapuram village where the Reddys have their mines on the Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka boundary.
Obulapuram, a tiny village coming under the Rayadurga Assembly constituency of Andhra Pradesh, is represented by Congress MLA Ramachandra Reddy, who is also said to be a close associate of the Reddys. However, there seems to be little support from partymen here for the padayatra.
Unlike in other places en route the padayatra, there is hardly any party flag or banner or flexes of leaders not only at Obulapuram but also on the entire 12 km stretch that passes through Andhra Pradesh. Obulapuram and D Hirehal are two adjacent villages and the padayatris will be walking this stretch of 12 km.
On Saturday night, Congressmen camped at Rampura in Chitradurga district. They are yet to trek 36 km to reach Bellary, their destination.
In the entire Obulapuram village, there was only one flex depicting photos of Union minister S M Krishna and R V Devaraj, the former Chikpet MLA welcoming the “nadarakshana nadige.” Similar was the scene at D Hirehal, a small town in the Rayadurga constituency.
The Andhra Pradesh and the Karnataka police have beefed up security on the stretch passing through Andhra to prevent any untoward incident during the padayatra. Many police jeeps were seen making trips between Obulapuram and Bellary City.
“We are in touch with the AP police to ensure foolproof security. A check-post has been set up at Rampura, where the 15th day padayatra will commence. We are scanning all private vehicles entering Bellary, besides video recording the traffic movement,” Bellary SP M N Nagaraj said.
The Congressmen on padayatra have no plans to halt their walk anywhere in the villages passing through Andhra. No local function has been organised. The leaders are scheduled to walk this stretch in one go. Usually, the leaders take a break every four to five km to address public gatherings. Interestingly, a majority of Obulapuram residents speak Kannada.
It is at Thammenahalli, which is about five km from Obulapuram, that the padayatra will enter Bellary district. The day’s padayatra is scheduled to end at Halkundi, 7 km from Bellary city. Congress leaders and party workers will stay at the Halkundi Veebhadreshwara Mutt off the Bangalore-Bellary road.