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Man collapses during Cong foot march against illegal mining
Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service

Bangalore, July 25
A 68-year-old man, Chikkaramaiah who was a participant in the Bangalore to Bellary foot march organised by the opposition Congress here to highlight the issue of alleged illegal mining, died today after he collapsed near the Indian Institute of Science.

Chikkaramaiah was rushed to the MS Ramaiah Memorial Hospital where he died soon after. The KPCC has announced Rs 1 lakh as compensation for the family of the deceased.

Earlier in the day, amidst sounds of bugles and drums, bursting of crackers and slogan shouting - “Bellary Bacchao and BJP Hatao” - Congress launched the “padyatra” campaign against the two-year-old BJP government in Karnataka. The Congress is expecting the foot march — covering over 300 km — to give a boost to the party’s sagging fortunes in the state.

Veteran Congress leaders K Sriramulu and KH Ranganath, despite their old age and ill health, inaugurated the programme at the Freedom Park here in the presence of a large gathering of partymen.

Former minister KH Ranganath handed over a sapling to Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Siddaramaiah, who is leading the agitation.

The Congress leaders will walk for 20 km every day, covering an average of 3 km per hour for 15 days. The padyatra will culminate in a rally in Bellary on August 9.