Sriramulu's padayatra atop Chamundi Hills

Says trek to hilltop was to fulfil a personal vow and not a party event

The Minister offered prayers to Goddess Chamundeshwari. He was accompanied by hundreds of his supporters and followers from Bellary, Mysore and surrounding areas.

Speaking with mediapersons before starting his walk, Sriramulu said the trek to top of the hill was to fulfil a personal vow and was not a party event. “My prayer to the Goddess is to protect the good and punish the bad. Through its padayatra, the Congress has tried to malign us. Their campaign was an utter failure,” said Sriramulu, clad in black kurta and barefoot.

Criticising the opposition leader, he said Siddaramaiah took the Congress party to a new low by bringing it to streets only to make his position more secure in the party. The Congress leaders are unable to digest the developmental works carried out by the BJP government, he remarked.

He ridiculed that the Congress leaders had shed their fat after years of corruption and poor show during their regime in the last 40 years from the padayatra.

To a question if his padayatra was needed when the people of State suffered from epidemics like chikungunya and dengue, he said his department has done everything to keep the situation under control. This year, the prevalence of these epidemics is less compared to last year.

In Mangalore, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said Mysore convention scheduled on Saturday will be a historical event during which all the achievements of the BJP government at the State will be highlighted.

Addressing the reporters at the Mangalore airport on Friday, he said that the meet is not being held as an answer or parallel to any other meet or movement.