Bangalore: Opposing to the encroachment of land and forests as well as the spoiling of natural resources in Bellary, the Congress on Sunday morning started the 320-km ‘padayatra’ from Bangalore to Bellary with slogans against the BJP government.

On the eve of Guru Purnima, the Congress said its workers to be honest devotees taking ‘deeksha’ on their mission-the Nada Rakshana Nadige to preserve the state’s land and natural resources.

The congress workers moved on with slogans ‘Quit BJP’ ‘Quit looters’ and ‘Quit communalists’ insisted by Nonagenerian freedom fighter K Sriramulu and veteran Congressman K H Ranganath offering a fistful of soil and a sapling to KPCC president R V Deshpande and opposition leader Siddaramaiah.

However, it is reported that one congress worker, Chikkamariah (68), collapsed and died during the ‘Bellary Chalo Padayatra’ in Bangalore. He felt severe pain in his heart and taken to the M. S. Ramaiah Hospital, where he was declared dead.