H. D. Kumaraswamy and R. Ashoka meet protesters near Bidadi on October 18. Photo: H. D. Kumaraswamy/X.
Bengaluru: Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy said police had agreed to allow persons with disabilities marching from Ramanagara towards Bengaluru’s Freedom Park to resume their journey on the morning of October 19, after talks at Kanaminike near Bidadi.
Kumaraswamy and Karnataka Assembly Opposition Leader R. Ashoka met the protesters on the Bengaluru–Mysuru highway on October 18. Kumaraswamy said they discussed the marchers’ demands and spoke to police who had stopped the procession.
Support for marchers’ demands
Expressing support for the protesters, Kumaraswamy criticised the Congress government over its handling of their demands and pensions. He alleged that the government was not giving them a proper hearing or allowing them to reach Freedom Park.
He contrasted this with his tenure as chief minister, saying persons with disabilities had been able to approach the Chief Minister’s office, residence and Vidhana Soudha directly.
Questions over government spending
Kumaraswamy alleged that the government had money to allocate ₹1,000 crore to Bharat Jodo organisations, ₹10 lakh to each panchayat and hundreds of crores to guarantee committees, but was failing to meet the demands of persons with disabilities.
He accused the government of misplaced spending priorities.
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