Karnataka Home Minister Denies Police Approval for Opposition Foot March

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara announced that the police will not grant permission to the opposition BJP and JD(S) for their planned foot march protesting alleged fraudulent land allotments by Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). Despite this, the march will proceed from Bengaluru to Mysuru from August 3 to 10.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday declared that the police will not grant permission for the opposition BJP and JD(S) foot march protesting the alleged fraudulent land allotments by Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), which includes a site for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathi.

Despite the government’s refusal, the opposition has planned a week-long march from Bengaluru to Mysuru from August 3 to August 10 to spotlight the 'MUDA Scam'.

‘We will not give permission for the padayatre (foot march). Let them (BJP-JDS) do it; we won’t say no, but the police department will not officially give any permission,’ announced Parameshwara.

Speaking to reporters, he assured that while permission is refused, the police will facilitate the marchers and ensure no problems arise.

Dismissing concerns about any counteraction from Congress, Parameshwara noted that party state president D K Shivakumar is devising a political strategy, with an intent to counter the opposition's moves without using government machinery.