Congress workers kick-started their Bellary yatra on Sunday amid the sounds of bugles, beating of drums and bursting of crackers.
Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah raised the slogan “Quit BJP, Quit Corruption and Quit illegal mining” to mark the beginning of the 16-day Nada Rakshnege Nadige (a long march to save the state) padayatra against the ruling BJP.
Buoyed by the support from a section of intellectuals and freedom fighters, Mr Siddaramaiah said, “The padayatra is not the end. It is a beginning in the fight against corruption, illegal mining and bad administration of the state.
Therefore, our new slogan will be ‘Quit BJP, Quit Corruption and Quit illegal mining’ through the padayatra.”
Addressing the rally, KPCC president R.V. Deshpande said, “Our promise to intellectuals and freedom fighters is that we will not spare anyone involved in illegal mining including from our party. Our commitment is to protect the state’s resources. There is no question of turning our back on this.”
The two leaders maintained that the yatra was an opportunity to expose the misdeeds of the Bhartiya Janata Party government in the state, including going back on the promises made to the common man, which was seemingly a sign of departure from their earlier stand to launch a padayatra in response to the challenge thrown by the Reddy brothers who had dared the Congress to step into Bellary district.