Advani says will go to Bangalore as part of yatra

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L K Advani today made it clear that he had no plans to skip Bangalore during his onoing nation-wide Jan Chetna Yatra against corruption as reported in some sections of the media.

"I will go to Karnataka and and I will also go to Bangalore," Mr Advani told mediapersons here today.

He said this in response to a question about the reports which suggested that he had cancelled plans to visit Bangalore after party leader and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa was arrested in connection with an alleged scam and sent to judicial custody.

Mr Yeddyurappa's arrest has caused great embarrassment to the BJP and dented its campaign against the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the Centre on the issue of corruption.

The Special Lokayukta Court yesterday extended the judicial custody of Mr Yeddyurappa till November 3. He was arrested on October 15 on the basis of a complaint filed by an advocate about alleged irregularities in denotifying government land.

Meanwhile, a UNI report from Bangalore quoted Karnataka BJP chief K S Eshwarappa as saying that Mr Advani would address a public meeting at the National College ground on October 30.