: Congress launches 170-km Mekedatu march for water #IndiaNEWS #News D. K. Shivakumar takes a dip in Cauvery, offers puja and carries padayatra flag in a coracle Bengaluru: Despite an alarming spike

Congress launches 170-km Mekedatu march for water #IndiaNEWS #News
D. K. Shivakumar takes a dip in Cauvery, offers puja and carries padayatra flag in a coracle

Bengaluru: Despite an alarming spike in COVID-19 and Omicron cases in the State and threats of disruption by the Government owing to stringent weekend curfew rules, the Congress this morning launched its 11-day padayatra seeking early implementation of Mekedatu drinking water project.

The padayatra started from Sangam — the confluence of Cauvery and Arkavathi rivers — in Kanakapura taluk of Ramanagara district with thousands of Congress workers and hundreds of leaders, including KPCC President D. K. Shivakumar, Leader of Opposition Siddharamaiah and veteran leader and leader of the party in Rajya Sabha M. Mallikarjuna Kharge, MP D. K. Suresh taking part. A host of MLAs, MLCs especially from the Mysuru, Mandya and Bengaluru regions attended the inaugural event.

The padayatra was a show of strength and at the same time unity by the Congress party as leaders from both Shivakumar and Siddharamaiah factions shared the stage with camaraderie. Thousands of Congress workers congregated in Kanakapura yesterday afternoon to prepare for the padayatra.

With participation from hundreds of workers, leaders and cultural groups, the principal Opposition Party in Karnataka has gone ahead with the march, as planned, unfazed by the Government’s warning of action in case of violation of COVID restrictions and rules. It now remains to be seen what action the Government will take, with a large number of people gathering in violation of rules and orders.

At the beginning of the rally, the party leaders beat the drums (nagari) signalling the start of the rally, touted to be one of the biggest in recent times. Seers from various mutts and religious leaders from various communities also took part. Before beating the drums, the leaders watered saplings that were kept on the stage, signifying the importance of water.

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