3 weeks ago
BJP Hits Out at Congress for Re-inducting Scam-Accused Nagendra
In the Indian state of Karnataka, two big political parties are having a big fight.
The BJP party is angry at the Congress party for making a leader named B Nagendra a minister again.
The BJP says Nagendra was part of a scam in which a lot of money was stolen from a corporation that helps tribal communities, called the Valmiki Tribes Development Corporation.
The CBI, a government agency that investigates serious crime, says about 89 crore rupees were taken using fake checks and electronic money transfers.
The scam was discovered after a worker at the corporation died by suicide.
Nagendra was arrested in July 2024 and stayed in jail until October 2024, when he got bail.
The BJP says someone accused of such a crime should not be a minister.
It warns that it will protest all over the state until Nagendra steps down.
It even says it will not let the Assembly meeting on August 13 work until he resigns.
The BJP attacked the Congress for re-inducting B Nagendra, accused in the Rs 89.63 crore Valmiki Tribes Development Corporation scam, into the Karnataka Cabinet.
Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, BJP Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, announced a statewide agitation if Nagendra is not dropped from the Cabinet.
The BJP warned it will not allow the Assembly session beginning August 13 to function unless Nagendra resigns.
The BJP accused the Congress of 'auctioning' ministerial berths, citing videos and conversations circulating in the public domain.
Nagendra was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement on July 12, 2024, and remained in prison until he got bail on October 14, 2024.
- Who
- BJP Leader of Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Congress MLA B Nagendra, the CBI and the Directorate of Enforcement.
- What
- BJP threatens statewide protests and Assembly disruption unless Congress removes Nagendra, accused in the Rs 89.63 crore Valmiki scam, from its Cabinet.
- Where
- Karnataka; the BJP addressed a press conference in Bengaluru.
- When
- The BJP's warning came on Wednesday; Nagendra took oath among 19 ministers on Monday; the Assembly session begins August 13.
- Why
- BJP alleges Nagendra's re-induction proves Congress supports corruption and that ministerial berths were 'auctioned' for money.
BJP's Position
Congress's Position
B Nagendra's Cabinet re-induction
BJP's Position
Nagendra faces corruption charges in the Rs 89.63 crore Valmiki scam and is out on bail, so making him a minister shows Congress supports corruption; he must resign before the Assembly session.
Congress's Position
Congress re-inducted Nagendra as one of 19 ministers sworn in on Monday, two months after D K Shivakumar became chief minister, keeping him in the Cabinet despite the allegations.
Alleged auctioning of ministerial posts
BJP's Position
BJP claims ministerial berths were put up for 'auction' and secured through monetary influence, citing videos and conversations in the public domain; 'honest' legislators without money were reportedly overlooked.
Congress's Position
The Congress proceeded with the Cabinet expansion and the swearing-in of 19 ministers as scheduled; the article reports no direct response from Congress to the auction allegation.
Key facts
- Scandal
- Karnataka Maharishi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation (KMVSTDCL) scam
- Allegedly diverted amount
- Rs 89.63 crore via forged cheques and RTGS transactions
- Funds pooled into corporation account
- Rs 187 crore into its Union Bank of India account
- Bank accounts used for layering
- Approximately 600
- Nagendra's arrest
- July 12, 2024, by the Directorate of Enforcement
- Nagendra's bail
- October 14, 2024
- Cabinet expansion
- 19 ministers took oath on Monday
- Assembly session
- Begins August 13
Quotes
Chalavadi Narayanaswamy
Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council
“"The Congress had put ministerial berths up for auction. Whoever could pay according to their capacity got the posts."”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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