'Govt sponsored bandh to disrupt Parivarthana rally'

The ruling Congress came under severe criticism at the BJP's Navakarnataka Nirmana Parivarthana Yatra, in Mysuru, with the party leaders accusing the government of hatching a conspiracy to scuttle the rally.

Speaking at the rally, former deputy chief minister R Ashoka said, the government had sponsored the bandh call to target the rally. "But the government's efforts have not materialised. It is evident from the large turnout," he said.

He said state-run buses had been deliberately taken off the roads. "A depot manager said drivers were not allowed to take out buses," Ashoka said.

BJP general secretary Shobha Karandlaje said, the government's conspiracy had been shattered by the people.

BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa said, the Congress did everything possible to scuttle the rally, but the people have given the Congmen a fitting reply.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar accused the government that it has missed a golden opportunity to resolve the Mahadayi River water dispute. "They played politics at a point when Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had come forward for talks with Karnataka," he said.

Former minister V Srinivas Prasad said, Siddaramaiah is an opportunist with no calibre. "He does not deserve the chief minister's post," he said.