BJP-JDS Demand Minister Nagendra's Resignation
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with its alliance partner Janata Dal Secular (JDS), staged a protest in Bengaluru, demanding the resignation of re-inducted Minister B. Nagendra, an accused in a multi-crore scam.
Bengaluru: The main opposition party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with its alliance partner Janata Dal Secular (JDS), staged a protest in front of the Valmiki statue in Vidhana Soudha of Bengaluru on Friday, demanding the resignation of re-inducted Minister B. Nagendra, an accused in a multi-crore scam of Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. Nagendra, MLA representing Ballari Rural seat, is on bail.
Minister of Planning B. Nagendra told reporters, “I have been directed by the president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) B.K. Hariprasad, and I will not comment on anything now. I won’t comment since all matters are in the Court.”
However, Nagendra said protesting BJP leaders are not ready to face the ruling party on the floor of the Assembly over alleged financial irregularities in the Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, and the State Government is ready to answer their queries, but they are not ready. He charged the BJP leaders “over (deliberately) wasting time in the ongoing Assembly session.”
Leader of Opposition in Assembly R. Ashoka stated, “Despite proper documents existing regarding financial irregularities in the Valmiki Corporation of about Rs 187 crore. We are waging a struggle against the Minister over his alleged involvement in the scam.”
Continuing, he said, “In the CBI and ED charge sheets, Nagendra is the main accused. Besides, he is the main accused in the 31 cases pending in the Lokayukta.” Ashoka said, “If Rs 187 crore belonging to the Corporation had reached poor Dalits, their children would have got better jobs.
State BJP president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra demanded that the State Government drop Nagendra from the Cabinet and questioned Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar about the treason behind the re-induction of Nagendra. Vijayendra wanted to know from Shivakumar, “Whether any investigating agencies have given a clean chit to Nagendra to induct him into the cabinet.”
