'Move an eyewash till illegal mining barons are in Cabinet'

Mining row: Mudslinging continues

On Tuesday, the third day of the padayatra, the government’s move to ban ore export from ports actually became a new stick for the Congress leader to beat the ruling BJP with. They termed the Government’s move as “ill-conceived” and “an eye-wash”.
KPCC working president D K Shivakumar said the ban on export would no way check illegal mining. The decision to ban export of the ore had no logic.

“The Chief Minister has shown that he is too cowardly to act against those involved in illegal mining. Otherwise, he would not have banned the export,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah maintained that the government’s move was “an eye wash”. The government’s move would not deter the Congress padayatra, which had the objective of pressuring the State Government to refer illegal mining to a CBI probe.
“There is no point in banning the export of iron ore, while retaining those engaged in illegal mining as ministers in his cabinet”, he said.

The Congress leaders walked for 18 km on the third day of padayatra from T Begur to Dobbespet off Bangalore-Tumkur road. Hundreds of supporters of Siddaramaiah from Mysore district joined the walk on Tuesday, adding more strength to the party’s Nada rakshana Nadige. More than 5,000 people took out the padayatra. Siddaramaiah was felicitated on the occasion. 

Almost all leaders, including Siddaramaiah, R V Deshpande, D K Shivakumar and V S Ugrappa, have developed blisters in their sore feet in the three days since they began their march. Those who wore new shoes for the march have now exchanged them for their old pair or slippers. “I am comfortable walking wearing slippers. I had a bad time with new shoes,” Ugrappa said.

The padayatris took a break every three to four km for rest and refreshments – snacks, biscuits and beverages. The leaders would relax on chairs, while workers made themselves comfortable on footpaths and culverts.
The Youth Congress members led by their State chief Krishna Byre Gowda were irrepressible in raising slogans against the BJP Government, adding the much-needed vigor to the padayatra.

The padayatra, however, has been causing major traffic bottlenecks on the busy Bangalore-Tumkur highway. The one-way road, from T Begur to Dobbespet, was closed for vehicle traffic for nearly three hours for the padayatris to pass.
DH News Service