Bengaluru, Jul 16: The BJP is having second thoughts about a padayatra from Madikeri to Bengaluru to demand the resignation of Bengaluru development minister KJ George in connection with the suicide of DSP M K Ganapathi.
The party planned a padayatra next week to mobilise public support against the Siddaramaiah government which has refused to let go of George though Ganapathi mentioned his name in a video interview. The BJP leaders - BS Yeddyurappa, Jagadish Shettar, KS Eshwarappa, R Ashoka and others - met on Friday and held preliminary discussions on the padayatra.
"Though a majority of the BJP legislators are fitness freaks and can walk up to 20km per day, the political and physical conditions don't seem to be conducive at this juncture," BJP sources said. The main factors against the padayatra are the terrain, timing and monsoon.
A BJP leader said: "There are hardly any villages between Madikeri and Mysuru and we cannot expect crowds on the way. Secondly, it's the rainy season and walking in heavy rain is very difficult. Thirdly, people are busy with agricultural operations in the paddy fields and may not show much interest in the padayatra.That's why we're exploring a rath yatra with stopovers at all important towns en route."
The leaders will take a call after visiting Madikeri on Saturday. They will meet Ganapathi's wife and party supporters in the Malnad region to decide the next course of action.
The BJP, which suspended its night-long dharna in the legislature because of the weekend, is devising strategies to keep up the pressure on the Siddaramaiah government, especially in the backdrop of unconfirmed reports that the legislature session will see an abrupt end on Monday or Tuesday.
Shettar said: "It (Congress) is getting all bills passed by taking advantage of our protest in the well of the house. It's more keen on ending the legislature session and putting the Ganapathi issue on the back burner.Though the CID has given its prelim inary findings, senior officials are trying to hush it up. We'll intensify our agitation."
Protesters pay for their dinnner
After being subjected to public backlash for spending the taxpayers' money by stalling the legislature session and accepting government hospitality for their overnight dharna, opposition parties in the legislative council on Thursday night paid for their dinner.
According to S V Sankanur (BJP): "With the media spotlight on the secretariat spending money for the legislators' dinner, we decided to have it outside with our money . The BJP and JD(S) asked their legislators to come to the council hall only to sleep."
Fatigued by the day-and-night dharna, most legislators looked forward to the two-day weekend break and return to their constituencies.
TIME TICKING?
The inauguration of Hennur Biodiversity Park in Bengaluru on Friday turned into a political rally of sorts, with chief minister Siddaramaiah defending city development minister KJ George and seeking the audience's reaction too: "George hasn't committed any mistake and we are also not protecting anybody, including him. The opposition has been demanding his resignation, and they claim 6 crore people are asking for it too. Are you asking as well?" The audience, taken aback, responded with "No!" The event took on a different dimension, with George declaring, "If I have made any mistake, I am ready to accept any punishment. I am trying to run a corruption-free administration with complete transparency, and whether I am a minister or an MLA, I will keep doing good work. I'm not afraid of criticism."
All the while, George's supporters kept up a lusty cheer and tried to garland him, which he politely declined
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