Congress rally rampages silicon city roads

Congress rally rampages silicon city roads
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Weekend revellers faced a nightmare on Sunday as this high tech city witnessed traffic blocks across the city following the massive Congress rally, attended by party supremo Sonia Gandhi, choking the city with party leaders and workers flocking to the city in buses from far and wide in the state.

Right from the morning, all roads led to Palace Grounds, where the merger of the all India progressive Janata Dal with the Congress was formalised by Gandhi at a hugely attended rally.

People from all corners of the state, hooking to various modes of transport, made a beeline to the city in what was described as a show of strength by the Congress, nudged out of power by the Janata Dal (Secular) in February last to form another coalition government with the BJP.

Despite making adequate steps, police had a tough time in controlling the traffic, leading to blockades at several junctions. Besides the vehicular movement, a long train of people were seen walking towards the Vidhana Soudha after the meeting to have a glimpse of the seat of power in the state.

Gandhi was in the dais for nearly an hour, sharing notes with party leaders, including KPCC president Mallikarjuna Kharge, leader of the opposition in the legislative council H K Patil and hero of the day - former deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah who sat next to her.

Besides the traffic problem, another major irritant for the people was the huge posters put up by Congress leaders, who vying with each other had chosen vantage points to ensure that the party supremo did not miss them.

The road from the airport to the venue of the rally was virtually flooded with posters. Staunch followers were later seen grabbing these posters and taking them home as a souvenir.

In some areas, people disgusted with the traffic snarls resorted to stone pelting at various vehicles.

Bus services in northern parts of the city remained badly affected, with large number of people seen waiting for city buses for hours together.

Traffic came to a grinding halt on Bellary Road, Peenya-Dasarahalli road, Yeshwantpur, J C Nagar, Sadashivanagar, parts of Outer Ring Road and Byatarayanapura.