Issue notification by Wednesday 5 p.m., urge protestors
As the ‘day and night’ dharna seeking restoration of ‘conservation reserve tag’ for the biodiversity rich Kappatagudda in Gadag entered the second day on Tuesday, yoga and karate enthusiasts extended supported by participating in the protest.
Even before the activists participating in the dharna woke up at the Gandhi Circle in Gadag, the yoga and karate enthusiasts reached the spot to extend their support and gave roses.
While seer of Tontadarya Mutt Sri Siddhalinga Swami is leading the campaign along with Founder of Samaj Parivartana Samudaya S.R. Hiremath, several religious heads, social activists, students and politicians from different political parties including the ruling Congress have extended support to the agitation to save the biodiversity-rich Kappatagudda from the clutches of the mining mafia.
Some of the protestors performed yoga after around 60 yoga enthusiasts from Patanjali Yoga Kendra began practising various asanas at the protest site. Social activist Ravi Krishna Reddy who is participating in the protest joined them and performed some of the asanas.
Karate enthusiasts from ‘Mushthi Karate Academy’ gave roses to the protestors including Mr. Hiremath and then showcased their karate skills.
Jatha planned
Later addressing a joint press conference with Raghavendra Kushtagi of Jana Sangrama Parishat (JSP), Mr. Hiremath set 5 p.m. of Wednesday as the deadline for the State government to issue notification on restoring the conservation reserve tag to Kappatagudda. “RDPR Minister and district-in-charge H.K. Patil should get the order issued from the government before Wednesday 5 p.m.. If it does not happen then a huge jatha would be taken from April 14 to May 1 from Siddaramanahundi to Kappatagudda”, he announced.
Mr Raghavendra Kushtagi said that it was condemnable that Mr. Siddaramaiah who had undertaken a ‘padayatra’ against the mining mafia as Opposition leader had now sided with the mining mafia. He alleged that “for the sake of politics and to finish off the political life of Minister H.K. Patil,” the Chief Minister was trying to handover Kappatagudda to the mining mafia.
Several activists, students and representatives of different organisations from across Karnataka took part in the dharna on the second day.
