Mangalore : The second leg of the Congress Padayatra ‘Congress Nadige Samarasyada Edege,’ from Ullal to Udupi, which commenced with much pomp and high spirit on Tuesday, seemed to have lost the same spirit on the second day.

On Wednesday, the party leaders accompanied by party workers continued the Padayatra from Kuloor in the morning to reach Mulki in the evening. The number of participants on Wednesday did not exceed 300.

However, the slogans and songs sung by the party workers, bands and hulivesha (tiger dance), crackers added excitement to the yatra that went on for about 25 kilo meters.

Addressing a public meeting at Surathkal, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President G Parameshwar said that the Congress intends Mangalore to develop on the lines of Bangalore.

It is for the same reason that the Central government has sanctioned Rs 1,100 crore for the third phase of MRPL, thus offering employment opportunities to thousands of people.

Rs 35,000 crore has been sanctioned for the development of crude oil units in Mangalore city, he said.

Opposition party leader Siddharamaiah took up the issue of naming the proposed Central University at Srirangapattna after Tipu Sulthan and said that he would urge Human Resource Development Minister Rehaman Khan to name it as Tipu Sulthan University.

“What do the BJP leaders know about Tipu. He was the most secular ruler of all the rulers who administered India,” he stated.

Giving out a strong signal to the BJP, that the Congress is all set to come to power in the coming election, he said the main purpose of organising Padayatra was to send the BJP back home. “We have already sent many of the BJP leaders to prison for their involvement in misappropriation cases and the sword is now hanging above you,” he warned RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat.

Congress leaders including Janardhan Poojary, C M Ibrahim, V R Sudarshan, Ramanath Rai and others participated in the Yatra.

A novel tribute to Gandhiji

Congress leader P V Mohan who was part of the Padayatra was silent throughout the second day of the Yatra. On enquiring about the reason for his silence, it was revealed that Mohan vows not to speak on every January 30 as it is the day of Gandhiji’s death anniversary.

The silent ritual is his way of tribute to Gandhiji and he has been practising it since 30 years.

As this correspondent questioned him, he wrote on a piece of paper “I maintain silence on this day to introspect myself and also to pay tribute to the father of the nation.”

When asked about his inspiration to take up such a decision, he maintained that he had drawn inspiration from freedom fighter Jatthappa Rai who too used to remain
silent on January 30.

Mohan began following this practice soon after he completed his graduation.

KPCC President G Parameshwar who learnt the same, honoured Mohan at Mulki public programme.-DH News