K’taka: Minister Nagendra resigns; Shivakumar to consult high command

Bengaluru, Aug 28 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday said he would take a decision on Planning and Statistics Minister B. Nagendra’s resignation on August 29, after consulting the Congress high command.

Addressing the media in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said Nagendra had met him and expressed his willingness to resign from the Cabinet in the interest of the party, stating that he did not want the controversy surrounding him to embarrass the Congress government or disrupt Assembly proceedings.

“He does not want to embarrass the party. He is a true Congress Dalit leader,” Shivakumar said, adding that Nagendra had handed over his resignation letter to him.

The Chief Minister said he would inform the party’s high command about Nagendra’s decision and take a final call on the resignation on Saturday morning.

Shivakumar said he was personally pained by Nagendra’s decision, noting that the minister belongs to the Scheduled Caste community and had defeated a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader twice in elections.

“For me as well, it is painful. He fought against a senior BJP leader twice and won the elections,” Shivakumar said, questioning the BJP’s agenda towards Dalits and the poor.

Defending Nagendra, the Chief Minister said he had studied the allegations against the minister and claimed that Nagendra was “nowhere connected” to the alleged irregularities. He said his legal team had also briefed him on the matter.

However, Shivakumar maintained that the party and the government were bigger than individuals and praised Nagendra for putting the party’s interests ahead of his ministerial position.

“I have been telling that he is ready to sacrifice anything for the party. He has proved it today,” Shivakumar said, expressing confidence that Nagendra would soon come out of the allegations.

On the Governor seeking permission for prosecution, Shivakumar said the government had received a communication seeking sanction. He said several matters needed to be examined and that he would take a decision within the legal framework.

“I cannot discriminate in legal matters. I will decide accordingly about prosecution,” he said.

Reacting to questions on whether Nagendra’s resignation amounted to a victory for the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD-S), Shivakumar rejected the suggestion.

“How is it a win? Dominating over one Dalit leader over false allegations, is it a win for them? Let them be happy,” he said.

Shivakumar also questioned the opposition over its allegations against Nagendra and said the Congress would respond at an appropriate time.

Nagendra’s decision to offer his resignation comes amid mounting pressure from the BJP, which has been demanding his removal over the alleged irregularities. The issue had also disrupted the Assembly session, with the opposition intensifying its protests.

The Chief Minister said Nagendra had sacrificed his ministerial position for the second time over the same matter, and reiterated that he would consult the high command before taking a final decision.

–IANS

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