The Congress party on Sunday kickstarted its 320-km
Bellary Chalo Padayatra from Bangalore to highlight the "failure" of the BJP government in Karnataka on various issues, including illegal mining.
The
padayatra from Bangalore to Bellary was aimed at protecting Karnataka
from the "misrule" of the government and to highlight plundering of natural resources, Congress leaders said.
The padayatra is in response to a challenge thrown by BJP Bellary ministers Janaradhana Reddy, Karunakara Reddy and Sriramulu daring the Congress to step into Bellary.
Congress had directed its workers from 15 assembly constituencies to participate in the programme.
The party leaders had met Karnataka governor H R Bhardwaj on Saturday seeking protection for the padayatra as they said they feared BJP would try to disrupt the programme.
The padayatra will culminate at Bellary in a rally on August 9, coinciding with Quit India Movement day.