Siddaramaiah behind bandh call to mar Modi's visit, alleges BJP state chief

BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa, on Monday, alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is behind the Karnataka bandh called by various organisations to protest over the Mahadayi River water issue on January 25 and February 4, to disturb the Parivarthana Yatre scheduled to be held in Mysuru and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bengaluru, respectively.

Speaking to reporters, here, Yeddyurappa said, the state has been witnessing a series of bandhs due to Siddaramaiah. "The BJP fully supports the protests over the issue of sharing of Mahadayi River water. But, bandh is not necessary in the Mysuru region. Bandh should be called in the affected areas. However, the scheduled programmes will not be stopped at any cost," he said.

Yeddyurappa said, the CM is politicising the Mahadayi project and the protesters should understand it. The protestors should stage a demonstration against Siddaramaiah and the Congress government, he said.

BJP's Parivarthana Yathra on Monday entered Mysuru district. Yeddyurappa addressed rallies in H D Kote, Nanjangud and T Narsipur. On Tuesday, he will take part in the rallies in Varuna in Mysuru taluk, K R Nagar, Hunsur and Periyapatna.

'Stations are Cong offices'

When the reporters asked about the Nazarbad police reportedly assaulting BJP city youth wing president Gokul Govardhan, Yeddyurappa said, the police stations have turned into Congress party offices.

"The assault is condemnable and the incident will be communicated to BJP president Amit Shah and Home Minister. We will never tolerate such incidents," Yeddyurappa said.

It may be mentioned that Govardhan was 'assaulted' by the police on Sunday
night when he visited the station to lodge a complaint against some illegal activities on a government school premises at Ittigegoodu in the city.

Following the incident, a large number of BJP workers and MP Pratap Simha staged a protest in front of the police station.