The Parivartana Rally in Mysuru where BJP national president Amit Shah is speaking, has been postponed to 4pm in the evening after protests by activists agitating over the Mahadayi water dispute.
The rally, which was scheduled to take place at 2.30pm is now scheduled for 4pm.
The rally is set to go ahead despite a state-wide bandh called by farmers and activists agitating against the Mahadayi water issue.
Protesters are demanding the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve a decades-old issue to benefit parched districts of North Karnataka.
The bandh is the first of two similar bandhs called over the issue with the next one coinciding with PM Modi’s visit to the state on February 4.
BJP leaders meanwhile have alleged that the bandh is politically motivated and has been organised to deliberately coincide with the rally of Amit Shah today.
“The bandh will not be successful. Amit Shah’s rally later today will be successful. First, let Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhi clearly state their stand on the Mahadayi issue. I have spoken to both Chief Ministers and am putting myself forward for resolving the issue,” said BS Yeddyurappa, BJP’s State President.
Meanwhile Congress admitted that the bandh was timed to coincide with the BJP leader’s state visit. “Yes, the intention of advancing the protest was to ensure that pressure is put on the centre. Since Amit Shah was said to arrive in Mysuru, it seemed apt to organise the bandh on the same day. Besides, the number of people showing up will also reflect on the Congress. This is because the party does not want to portray that we are losing support in Mysuru. Besides several leaders from the Kuruba community are joining the JDS today so Congress has to put on a strong front,” a Congress functionary told TNM.
With Karnataka set for state Assembly elections in May this year, both BJP and Congress have publicly traded potshots over a number of issues in the last few weeks.
In December 2017, over 500 farmers from Gadag, Bagalkote, Hubballi and Dharwad came to Bengaluru and staged a satyagraha outside the BJP office in Malleshwaram. Further protests were held by leaders of both BJP and Congress in the city.
The Parivartana Yatra rally flagged off on November 2 and saw the BJP organise public rallies to mobilise support and canvass for votes in various districts of Karnataka.