Congress precipitating COVID crisis with its ‘Padayatra’: Min Araga Jnanendra

Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister on Wednesday accused the Congress in the state of precipitating the COVID crisis with their ‘Walk for Water’, demanding a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu in Ramanagara district.

”Not heeding calls to postpone the Padayatra program, ostensibly undertaken to draw political mileage, the Congress leaders are precipitating the COVID crisis in the state,” Jnanendra said in a statement.

He criticized the adamant attitude of the Congress leaders for continuing their march and said the initial apprehension of the government about the Padayatra ”is, unfortunately, coming true”.

”Because of these specific reasons, we had appealed to the Congress leaders to defer this event but it seems that Congress leaders are only concerned about taking political advantage and not about the public health,” he said.

According to Jnanendra, already several Congress leaders who had taken part in the 10-day event had tested positive for Covid-19 and got admitted to the hospital.

Renewing his appeal to the Congress leaders to end their program, Jnanendra said, ”I hope the Congress leaders who were also in power in the past would act sensibly and responsibly and call off their program.” The Congress commenced its march from Mekedatu on January 9 demanding the balancing reservoir for complete utilization of Karnataka’s share of Cauvery water to meet the drinking water needs of Bengaluru and adjoining districts.

The Tamil Nadu government has opposed the project saying that it will hamper their interest.