Citing COVID-19, BJP MLAs request Karnataka govt to stop Congress' padayatra entry into city
Bengaluru, Jan 12: Ruling BJP legislators from Bengaluru on Wednesday urged the Karnataka government not to allow Congress' padyatra, demanding implementation of Mekedatu project across Cauvery river, from entering the city to avoid further spread of COVID-19 infections here.
BJP MLAs like Arvind Limbavali, Satish Reddy, Ravi Subramanya and Uday Garudachar in a joint press conference, even requested the Congress to call off the march citing the interest of the people of Bengaluru.
"At a time when corona is peaking, is there a need for it (padayatra)? So, we request them (Congress) to call off the padayatra. If not, we urge the government to take strict measures to stop them. If there is a need, arrest them," said Limbavali, an MLA from Mahadevapura constituency.
Satish Reddy, from Bommanahalli constituency, too called on Congress leaders to call off the padayatra that may spread the virus in the city, as he warned that BJP may have to start 'peaceful protests' against them, if they don't stop.
"I want to tell my Congress friends, Bengaluru has about 1.25 crore population. Once it spreads here, it will spread across Karnataka and may lead to loss of lives... As the cases are spiking, immediately call off the padayatra. If not, people and legislators of Bengaluru know how to stop it... people of Bengaluru will reject you," Reddy said, as he also urged the government to take steps to stop them.
Basavanagudi MLA Ravi Subramanya, requested the opposition party to keep aside politics and stand with the people in their sufferings, so as to avoid another lockdown.
"Stop it for now... in the days to come we will all work together for the drinking water needs of Bengaluru," the legislator said, as he asked the government not to remain silent and take strict action in the interest of the people of the state.
Chickpet MLA Uday Garudachar said his constituency which comes in Bengaluru's central business district is a thickly populated area, and asked Congress not to bring padayatra there as it may lead to COVID-19 spread among a lot of daily-wage workers and traders.
"Please don't enter Bengaluru in the interest of its citizens of the city," he said.
Led by state Congress President D K Shivakumar and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah, the padayatra on its fourth day on Wednesday covers a distance of about 15 km from Chikkenahalli to Ramanagara. They are likely to reach Bengaluru city on Friday night.
The 10-day padayatra with the theme 'Namma Neeru Namma Hakku' (Our water, Our right) that began at Sangama, the confluence of Cauvery and Arkavathi rivers at Kanakapura in Ramanagara district on January 9, will be spanning a distance of nearly 139 kms.
The march from Mekedatu to Bengaluru, passing through Kanakapura, Ramanagara and Bidadi, is scheduled to culminate at Basavanagudi in Bengaluru on January 19.
Reporting another spike, Karnataka on Tuesday had registered 14,473 fresh cases, out of which 10,800 were from Bengaluru Urban alone.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
