Mangalore: The 73 km long four day padayatra organized by the Congress from Ullal to Malpe was flagged off at   Ullal on January 29, Tuesday by KPCC Chief Dr G Parameshwar by garlanding the statue of the valiant queen Rani Abbakka.

Speaking on the occasion, Parameshwar said the Congress aims to dislodge the BJP government from power during the next elections and win the confidence of the people to return to power. He said the BJP government was backing fundamentalism and added this was against the interests of the state.

Later, addressing a party workers convention held at Tokkottu, senior Congress leader and opposition leader Siddaramaiah said the BJP was sowing the seeds of communalism in the minds of people and added that peace has become a thing of past. Only the Congress government can ensure peace and harmony, he said and alleged that even the JD(S) leaders Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy were responsible for bringing the BJP to power. He also referred to the KJP and BSR Congress and said both were one and the same.

Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojari, in his address, clarified on the recent saffron controversy in the Congress and said he was not against Congress and alleged the BJP has failed to understand the importance of Saffron.

Union Minister Veerappa Moily, senior party leader CM Ibrahim also spoke.

Several party leaders including DCC Chief  Ramanatha Rai, former MP Vinay Kumar Sorake, MLA UT Khader, Motamma, BA Moidin, Muniappa and others participated in the rally.