Pro Kannada activist slams Rahul Gandhi for Bandipur protests

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has faced backlash in Karnataka over his protests on the night traffic ban in Bandipur. Pro Kannada activist and Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha (KCVP) chief Vatal Nagaraj has said that Karnataka should immediately boycott Rahul Gandhi for his involvement in the protests. Nagaraj also staged a protest outside the railway station in Mysore. His protests were, however, in favour of the traffic ban.

READ: Rahul Gandhi's Wayanad Night-traffic Ban Protest Gets No Traction

Vatal Nagaraj calls for boycotting Rahul Gandhi

"Rahul Gandhi must be boycotted in Karnataka as he's supporting the protest in Kerala against Bandipur night vehicles ban," Nagara said on Saturday.

Nagaraj asserted that Gandhi supporting the unrest in Kerala despite the Supreme Court order in a matter is unacceptable. He added that the wildlife in Karnataka is a crucial asset for the state. However, he lashed out at the thriving timber mafia responsible for the protests. 

"Bandipur and the wildlife are assets of Karnataka. It's everyone's responsibility to protect it. But the timber mafia, which is orchestrating these protests in Kerala, is creating the ruckus to ensure that vehicles are allowed in Bandipur," he said. 

READ: Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi Joins Protest Against NH 776 Night Travel Ban

Nagaraj also blamed the Kerala government for supporting the protests. He repeatedly said that wildlife in the state should be protected and the forest should not be destroyed. 

 "No committee should be formed to build any roads or flyover in Bandipur either," he said. 

Congress scion Rahul Gandhi joined the protesters, who are on an indefinite hunger strike against the imposed daily nine-hour traffic ban on NH 766 that links the two southern states, in Sultan Bathery on Friday. The protests commenced on September 25. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had, on October 2, slammed Rahul Gandhi for supporting the protest despite the Supreme Court order and said that the ban will continue.

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Gandhi's traffic ban gets no traction

The ongoing protests against the ban on the night traffic in Bandipur National Park, spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi, has been getting no traction from the locals living along the Karnataka border. The ban was instituted on the part of the highway, NH 766 in Sultan Bathery, linking Kerala and Karnataka. The Congress leader and the MP from Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi joined the protests on Friday morning to stand in solidarity with the protesters.

READ | Bandipur Tiger Reserve Night Traffic Ban: Big Protests - Big Explainer

(With ANI Inputs)