BENGALURU: The state BJP leadership is making all preparations for the padayatra as part of its protest against the alleged MUDA site allotment and Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation multi-crore scams. They held a preparatory meeting on Monday to discuss the route map and preparations for the padayatra.
Speaking after the meeting, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra said that the padyatra will start on August 3 at 8:30 am from Kempamma temple in Kengeri. Former CM B S Yediyurappa, Union ministers H D Kumaraswamy and Prahlad Joshi will flag off the padyatra. All senior leaders of BJP and JD(S) will participate in the yatra, he said.
The padyatra will cover a total distance of 224 km in 7 days, covering 20 km every day. The padyatra will start with a puja at Kempamma temple and will cover 10 km in the morning and 10 km post lunch. Leaders from all the 24 Assembly constituencies will participate in the padyatra, with 8-10 leaders and activists from each constituency joining every day.
At least 200 people will join the padayatra everyday in every district, Vijayendra said. A team has been formed to oversee the arrangements for food and accommodation.
Vijayendra also responded to the government’s delay in granting permission for the padyatra, saying that the government is afraid of the BJP’s fight against irregularities. He also warned that if the government tries to stop the padyatra, it will lead to unpredictable consequences.
Regarding Ramesh Jarakiholi’s statement that he does not agree with Vijayendra’s leadership, Vijayendra said, “I am not a leader, but a party worker, and I am only following the high command’s instructions”. Vijayendra also commented on Basanagouda Patil Yatnal’s separate padayatra, saying that even if one or two people conduct separate padyatra, it will add strength to the party.Regarding Aravind Limbavali’s tweet criticizing the BJP-JDS fight in the Assembly, Vijayendra said that the BJP has been continuously fighting against irregularities and that Limbavali’s statement is misleading.