Karnataka Congress decides to postpone its Mekedatu padayatra

Bengaluru: A day after the state government ordered an immediate ban on the opposition party’s Mekedatu Padayatra, the Karnataka Congress on Thursday decided to postpone its 10-day protest march.

The padayatra that was taking place despite a massive surge in the state’s daily Covid-19 cases had drawn fierce criticism.

However, the protest march has now been halted on the 5th day after party leaders participating in the march, including Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar and former chief minister Siddaramaiah, held a meeting in Ramanagara to discuss the future course of the agitation.

It is said that the meeting was held after the Congress high command ordered the state leaders to immediately end the foot march.

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday had questioned whether the State Government and its authorities were ‘helpless and totally incompetent’ to stop padayatra by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Mekedatu project when no permission was granted and the guidelines on COVID-19 prohibit such rallies and gatherings.

After being briefed over the COVID-19 situation in the state, the Karnataka HC bench had also slammed Congress for not adhering to the COVID-19 restrictions imposed on public gatherings in an order issued on January 4, 2022.