Mekedatu Padayatre: 35 Congress leaders booked for defying Covid curbs

Bengaluru: Local police booked 35 Congress leaders, who took part in the Mekedatu Padayatre on Sunday, for breaking weekend curfew for slowing down Covid progress, reports said.

FIRs have been registered against KPCC president DK Shivakumar Shivakumar, Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah, and others for violating prohibitory orders during the launch of the padayatra on Sunday.

Despite this, the Congress’ walk for Mekedatu continued for the second day on Monday. Congress is demanding the implementation of the Mekedatu project.  The Congress plans to cover 15 km from Shivakumar’s native Doddalahalli to Kanakapura on the second day of the march.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister BAsavaraj Bommai reiterated his earlier stance on legal action against the organizers of the foot march. “Anybody who violates the law will face action…  Now that cases have been registered, whatever needs to be done next as per provisions will happen automatically,” he told reporters.

Earlier, Shivakumar had challenged the government to lodge FIRs against the people who marched on Sunday. He even teased by saying that he would provide lists and photographs of thousands of those who took part on Sunday.