Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 15: Ahead of Assembly elections, BJP has planned a 'Karnataka Suraksha Yatra' from March 3 to 6 with the aim of spreading awareness on safety among the youth and promoting peace and security in the coastal districts.

The Yatra will be launched from Kushalnagar in Kodagu district and Ankola in Uttara Kannada district simultaneously on March 3. While union minister D V Sadananda Gowda and MP Pratap Simha will flag off the Yatra at Kushalnagar, union ministers Ananth Kumar and Ananth Kumar Hegde will initiate the Yatra at Ankola.

The Yatra, which starts from Kushalnagar will move via Madikeri, Sullia, Puttur, Kalladka, B C Road, and Mangaluru, before culminating in Suratkal. The Yatra that begins at Ankola will take Kumta, Bhatkal, Byndoor, Kundapur, Udupi, Kaup and Mulky route before reaching Suratkal.

The Yatra will culminate with a a mega convention at Suratkal on March 6, in which Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath will take part, said MP and BJP state general secretary, Shobha Karandlaje, addressing a press conference here on Wednesday February 14.

Karandlaje said that the aim of the Yatra is to establish peace in coastal Karnataka. The Yatra will be led by respective Lok Sabha members with the participation of local leaders and workers. In urban areas, the procession will move on foot, while in other areas they will undertake journey by vehicles.

In response to a question, Karandlaje said that this is not a programme of friction with anyone and that it is being organized to instill among the people of Karnataka coast a feeling of safety and security after a period that was marred by murders and disturbances. She said that in urban areas on the way, meetings will be held.

Party leaders, N Ravikumar, Dr Vaman Acharya, Anwar Manippady, S Prakash and others were present at the press conference.