Tribal welfare scam: BJP threatens to disrupt Karnataka legislature until Min Nagendra resigns

Bengaluru, Aug 5 (IANS) The Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday warned that the party would not allow the Legislature to function until newly inducted Minister B. Nagendra resigns, alleging that a tainted leader facing corruption charges in connection with the alleged Tribal Welfare scam has no place in the Cabinet.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters, Jagannath Bhavan, in Bengaluru, Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, said the party would intensify its agitation across Karnataka and disrupt the Assembly session, scheduled to begin on August 13, if Nagendra continued as a minister.

“Cases against Nagendra are still pending in court. He is even restricted from travelling to Delhi by the court. Such a tainted person cannot remain in the Cabinet. We will not rest until he resigns. If he does not step down immediately, our protest will continue and we will not allow the House to function,” he said.

He alleged that Nagendra, who had earlier resigned as a minister following allegations in the Valmiki Development Corporation scam involving the alleged misappropriation of Rs 187 crore, had returned to the Cabinet despite being out on bail.

Narayanaswamy alleged that purported videos circulating in the public domainallegedly showed discussions suggesting that Cabinet positions were allocated based on financial considerations.

“Nagendra had resigned only after sustained protests by BJP leaders and legislators. He even went to jail and is currently out on bail. Despite this, the Congress has rewarded him with a ministerial berth,” Narayanaswamy alleged while displaying a purported video to reporters.

Narayanaswamy further claimed that Nagendra was re-inducted either because the Congress leadership feared he would reveal names linked to the alleged scam or because he had ‘paid’ more than others for the ministerial position.

Targeting the Congress leadership, Narayanaswamy also referred to another alleged video involving former Minister Shivanand Patil Thimmapur and former MLA Nanjayyanamath, claiming it suggested that honesty was not valued in the party.

“The Congress itself is producing corrupt leaders. They are not here to serve the country but to loot it,” Narayanaswamy alleged.

He also criticised the quality of ministers inducted into the Cabinet, claiming that several of them struggled to take the oath in Kannada.

“If they do not know Kannada, it is one thing. But has the only qualification become the ability to loot? The BJP will never tolerate corruption,” he alleged.

On the controversy surrounding the Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, Narayanaswamy criticised the Karnataka Congress’ nominee for the Chairman’s post in the Legislative Council Saleem Ahmed for reportedly seeking the Chairman’s resignation.

“Who is Salim Ahmed to ask the Chairman to resign? The Legislative Council is a permanent House and the Chairman’s post cannot be treated as the property of any political party. Pressuring him to resign is unconstitutional and illegal,” he said.

He added that if the Congress wanted to move a no-confidence motion against the Chairman, the BJP was prepared to face the debate, but insisted that no unconstitutional pressure should be exerted on him.

Narayanaswamy also took a swipe at the Congress high command, alleging that key decisions were being taken by Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal rather than the party president.

“Leaders from Karnataka meet Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, but not the AICC president. Everything is controlled by Venugopal. The Congress has no respect for constitutional values,” he alleged.

He urged Chairman Horatti not to resign under political pressure.

BJP ST Morcha State President Bangaru Hanumanthu and state secretary Mahantesh Nayak were also present at the press conference.

–IANS

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