Karnataka Election 2023: Keeping NEET examinations in mind, the Karnataka BJP made changes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day roadshow in Bengaluru, ahead of the Assembly polls in the state, by scheduling an extensive event on May 6 and a shorter one on May 7, Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje said on Friday. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is scheduled for May 7 (Sunday).

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"PM Narendra Modi's roadshow will be on May 6 and 7, and preparations are on for it. We had shared information in that regard with the public through the press. However, you (media) people informed us about the NEET exams on May 7 at 2 pm, and the 26 km roadshow will cause inconvenience for (students writing) exams," Karandlaje said.

Speaking to reporters here, she said, this was brought to the notice of the Prime Minister, and Modi who pays special attention to children with initiatives such as 'Pariksha pe Charcha', asked us to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to even a single student going to the exam centre at any cost. So the PM directed the state BJP to make changes in the programme, she said, as desired by him, certain changes have been made in the programme.

"Earlier we had said on May 6 that there would be a 10 km road show, and on May 7 it would be 26 km. Changing that, we will now be holding a long distance of 26 km on May 6 from Someshwar Bhavan RBI Ground in Bengaluru South to Malleshwaram's Sankey Tank between 10 am to 1.30 pm, and a shorter one of about 10 km between Kempegowda statue at Thippasandra to Trinity Circle, that can be completed soon, will be held on Sunday from 10 am to 11/11:30 am, she said.

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Further noting that not many exam centres are located on the stretch where the roadshow will be held on Sunday, she said if there are any students coming from that region, on showing their hall tickets, police officials have been directed to ensure that they reach exam centres on time.

The roadshow, earlier scheduled to be held for eight hours on Saturday alone, was then split into two parts. On Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 1.30 pm to prevent inconvenience to the general public in case the rally is held for a full day.

Accusing the Congress of conspiring to disrupt the roadshow on Saturday, by getting the ambulances linked to their workers and well-wishers or hospitals run by them, at places along the stretch of 26 km that the PM is likely to complete in about 3 hours, Karandlaje said, they have conspired to bring a bad name to the Prime Minister's roadshow. "We have requested the police to ensure that ambulances with patients reach the hospitals on time without any hindrance, we have also discussed this with SPG in this regard…We are following up on things," she said.