RSS intervenes to rein in Karnataka’s Reddy brothers
August 4th, 2010 - 10:08 pm ICT by IANSBangalore, Aug 4 (IANS) The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Wednesday counselled the Reddy brothers in Karnataka to exercise restraint in their campaign against the Congress march to Bellary over the issue of illegal mining, Sangh sources said.
State RSS leaders met Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy here in the backdrop of the rallies he, his brothers and their associate state Health Minister B. Sriramulu are holding in Bellary where the Congress marchers will reach Aug 9 for a public meeting.
The leaders, Jayadev and Mukund, told Reddy that they were particularly unhappy at Sriramulu’s statements that there could be trouble in Bellary when the Congress holds its meeting Aug 9, the sources said.
Reddy, his elder brother state Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy, the younger brother G. Somashekara Reddy and Sriramulu launched their ’swabhimani yatre’ (walk to protect Bellary’s name) without consulting Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.
Yeddyurappa had shot down Sriramulu’s plan for a ‘padayatra’ (walk) from Bellary to Mysore to counter Congress’ Bangalore to Bellary ‘nada rakshana nadige’ (walk to protect Karnataka).
The Congress began its 320-km march July 25. Covering 20 km a day, the party leaders and workers will converge Aug 9 in Bellary, the political base of the Reddys.
The Congress leaders have been repeatedly saying they apprehend trouble from the supporters of Reddy brothers and Sriramulu when they reach Bellary.
Reddy is reported to have justified launching the rallies in Bellary despite Yeddyurappa disapproving it.
The RSS leaders impressed on Reddy that any law and order problem in Bellary when Congress marchers reach there will be blamed on the Yeddyurappa government and hence he and his supporters should exercise caution.
The Reddys are accused of large-scale illegal mining in Bellary and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. They have denied the allegations.
The Congress launched the long march after Yeddyurappa rejected their demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into illegal mining.
- Congress' march reaches Bellary's outskirts - Aug 09, 2010
- Yeddyurappa disapproves of Reddys' Bellary show - Jul 30, 2010
- Karnataka bans iron ore exports - Jul 29, 2010
- Arrest Reddy kin to prevent evidence tampering: Congress - Sep 14, 2011
- BJP takes first step to discipline defiant Reddy brothers - Nov 25, 2011
- Karnataka's season of rallies, prayers, power cuts - Jul 24, 2010
- With Bellary win, rebel Reddy brothers show BJP their clout - Dec 04, 2011
- Yeddyurappa loses cool at Dalit protesters in BJP rally - Aug 02, 2010
- No ministership for Reddy brothers - Aug 12, 2011
- BJP unites to defeat Reddy brothers in Bellary - Nov 17, 2011
- Congress to campaign against BJP government in Karnataka - Jun 13, 2011
- BJP plans to reclaim Bellary from Reddy brothers - Nov 16, 2011
- CBI to quiz Reddy brothers over illegal mining - Sep 15, 2011
- BJP to fight once-favourite Reddy brothers in Bellary - Nov 11, 2011
- Reddy brothers planning to break from BJP? - Nov 28, 2011
Tags: andhra pradesh, associate state, backdrop, bangalore, chief minister, congress leaders, congress march, counselled, elder brother, health minister, law and order, mukund, party leaders, rallies, rashtriya swayamsevak sangh, reddys, revenue minister, state health, state revenue, tourism minister