Congress postpones its Mekedatu padayatra a day after the Karnataka government's prohibition

The Karnataka Congress decided to postpone its 10-day Mekedatu padayatra (foot march) on Thursday, a day after the state government was ordered by the high court to immediately ban the opposition party's protest march, which was occurring despite a massive increase in daily Covid-19 instances in the state.

The decision was made after party officials taking part in the march, including Karnataka Congress chairman DK Shivakumar and former chief minister Siddaramaiah, met in Ramanagara to decide the agitation's future direction.

The Congress' padayatra's fifth day began with Shivakumar, the protest's organizer, tweeting, “Day 5 of #Mekedatu Padyatra begins- with prayers and seeking blessings to win this historic fight. #NammaNeeruNammaHakku (our water, our right).”

The protest began on January 9 in Ramanagara, as the state experienced an increase in new Covid-19 infections. Shivakumar was chastised by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for refusing to wear a mask and for refusing to be tested for the virus.

At least three FIRs have been filed against the lawmaker, as well as many Congress leaders and others, for allegedly breaking coronavirus-related protocols.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru's civic body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has canceled permission for an event set for January 19 in the state capital to mark the end of the Mekedatu padayatra.

COVID-19: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has revoked Congress' permission to hold a programme in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on January 19 to mark the end of the Mekedatu Padayatra.