Mekedatu set for Sunday showdown

By Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: For Congress leaders, all roads lead to Mekedatu inroads lead to Mekedatu in Kanakapura taluk of Ramanagar district which is set to witness a major showdown between the ruling and opposition parties over the 165 km long padayatra from Mekedatu to Bengaluru from Sunday to press for implementation of the balancing reservoir project.

While Congress leaders are ready to defy the prohibitory orders imposed in Ramanagar to prevent them from taking out the padayatra, the district police have decided not to allow the yatra and warned of cases under the NDMC Act. “We have not given permission. So, no one will be allowed to violate prohibitory orders. Cases will be booked against those who defy orders”, Ramanagar Superintendent of Police Girish told reporters in Kanakapura. As many as 1,200 police personnel would be deployed to thwart the Congress padayatra, he said.

However, Congress leaders are in no mood to give up. “We have come prepared for everything. Let them arrest us and send us to jail. Our walk is for the people.