Are authorities incapable of taking action to stop Congress padayatra: K’taka HC

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has rapped the ruling BJP government and Congress in the state over the Mekedatu padayatra and issued notices.

The High Court was hearing Public Interest Litigation by Nagendra Prasad AV seeking directions from the court to stop the rally amid the rising COVID-19 cases in Karnataka.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice Suraj Govindaraj, questioned why the rally was allowed to be carried out amid rising COVID-19 cases and asked if the government was incapable of taking action.

The court has directed both to issue clarification by January 14.

Meanwhile, Karnataka police on Wednesday lodged FIRs against 63 Congressmen, including KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, for defying curfew orders by taking part in Mekedatu padayatra.

According to Ramanagar SP Girish, the complaint has been lodged as per the complaint by the Tehsildar in Kanakapura police station.

This is the third FIR on Congress leaders who are going ahead with the ‘padayatra’ amid the Covid third wave and curfew orders.

On the first day, an FIR was lodged at Sathanur police station against 31 people which rose to 38 on day 2 of the ‘padayatra’.