Nagendra’s resignation result of public pressure: K’taka BJP

Bengaluru, Aug 28 (IANS) Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on Friday said Minister B. Nagendra’s resignation was the result of sustained public pressure and the protests led by the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD-S) over the alleged Valmiki Development Corporation scam.

Karnataka Planning and Statistics Minister B. Nagendra on Friday announced his resignation from the Cabinet, saying he was stepping down to ensure that the Congress party and its leadership were not embarrassed by the controversy surrounding the alleged Valmiki tribal welfare corporation scam.

Reacting to Nagendra’s resignation, Ashoka accused the Congress government of initially attempting to shield the minister from accountability and said the government was “forced to bow before public anger”.

Ashoka alleged that Rs 187 crore meant for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes had been siphoned off and questioned the Congress government’s handling of the issue.

“When the BJP and JD-S demanded answers, what did the Congress government do? We raised questions, but they ran away from the House. We demanded answers, but they curtailed the session. We exposed the truth, but they turned the government machinery into a shield for the accused,” Ashoka alleged.

He said the government could adjourn the Assembly and avoid a debate, but could not suppress the truth.

Ashoka claimed that the Congress government panicked after the BJP announced a statewide padayatra demanding accountability in the alleged scam. “The resignation of B. Nagendra is the result of sustained public pressure and the relentless fight waged by the BJP and JD-S, both inside and outside the legislature,” he said.

The Opposition leader also attacked the Congress over its references to B.R. Ambedkar and social justice. “For a party that never misses an opportunity to invoke the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar, this is a stark reminder: you cannot claim to stand with the oppressed while turning a blind eye to the alleged diversion of money meant for their welfare,” Ashoka said.

He described Nagendra’s resignation as more than the resignation of an individual minister and termed it a “political blow” to the Congress government.

However, Ashoka said the resignation should not be considered the end of the matter. “Nagendra’s resignation is not the end of the matter. It is the beginning of the investigation,” he said.

He raised several questions over the alleged diversion of tribal welfare funds, including who masterminded the alleged scam, who authorised the transfer of funds, from whose office the directions originated and who ultimately benefited from the alleged diversion.

Ashoka also questioned whether anyone had attempted to protect those responsible for the alleged irregularities. “Every question must be answered. Every person involved in the alleged diversion of public money must face the law. Those who facilitated it and those who attempted to shield the accused cannot be allowed to escape accountability,” he said.

He demanded that the complete trail of the funds be brought into the public domain and that everyone responsible be held accountable. “The resignation of one minister cannot wash away the Congress government’s responsibility,” Ashoka said.

He said the BJP would continue its fight until the people received answers and the entire truth behind the alleged scam was uncovered. “This is not the end of the fight. This is the beginning of the fight for truth,” Ashoka said.

–IANS

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