Yeddy graft spectre on prowl, Advani gives B'lore rally the miss

Bangalore: Against the backdrop of former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa landing in jail and some other BJP leaders coming under a cloud, the 30 October public rally of LK Advani here as part of his yatra against corruption, has been been cancelled.

However, the ‘Jan Chethana Yatra’ would continue its journey elsewhere in the state, in the coastal parts of Mangalore, Udupi and Honnavara on 31 October, party sources said.

There would be no change in the public rally to be held on 1 November at Ankola, the last stop of the yatra in Karnataka, before it enters neighbouring Goa, they said.

The BJP decided against holding public meeting in Bangalore apparently in the light of recent developments that have embarrassed the party with former chief minister Yeddyurappa and another former minister S N Krishnaiah Setty sent to jail in cases relating to alleged land scams.

A Lokayukta Court on Thursday directed the Lokayukta police to investigate a private complaint filed against Home Minister R Ashoka, regarding alleged denotification of land in violation of rules.

The state BJP unit cancelled some of the preliminary meetings it had planned today to discuss the arrangements for Advani’s rally in the city. The party had earlier announced that the yatra would enter Karnataka through Kasargod in Kerala on 30 October and Advani would address a public meeting at the National College grounds here in the evening.

After a night’s stay in the city, Advani’s yatra will traverse through Mangalore, Mulki, Hejmadi, Udupi, Kumdapura, Baindur, Bhatkal, Honnavar, Kumata on 31 October.

PTI