JDS to launch padayatra to highlight Karnataka Govt's failures

Close on the heels of the Congress setting a date for its 'Bellary Chalo' padayatra against the ruling BJP in Karnataka over illegal mining, JDS today said it would also embark on a similar stir to highlight the "failures" of the state government.Former Chief Minister and state unit JDS president H D Kumaraswamy said he would hold the 'padayatra' either from Bidar to Davanagere or Chamarajnagar in South Karnataka next month or by October.

Kumaraswamy told reporters he planned to cover about 20 km daily and halt overnight at a village, replicating similar visits he undertook when he was the chief minister, "which won accolades from people".

Though he wanted to launch his padayatra from August 15, party leaders had suggested that he embark on it from October as the state would witness rains during August, he said.
The Congress is launching its Bangalore to Bellary padayatra from July 25.

The JDS leader said a booklet on the "failures" of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa-led government would be brought out on that occasion.

He refuted Tourism minister and mining baron G Janardhan Reddy's contention earlier today that he and his brother and revenue minister Karunakar Reddy were not involved in illegal mining and said JDS has "documents" to prove it.

"We have documents to prove our charge," Kumaraswamy, who faced Rs 150 crore bribery allegations hurled by Janardhan Reddy in 2006, said.

Kumaraswamy demanded that the BJP government initiate a CBI probe into the bribery charges and also claimed Reddy has no evidence to prove his allegations.