Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Karnataka Congress Protests BJP Over Tribal Welfare Scam Debate
Karnataka’s Congress legislators protested against the BJP during an Assembly session.
The BJP is demanding that Minister B. Nagendra resign over an alleged tribal welfare scam.
Congress says the BJP is stopping the Assembly from discussing drought relief and water shortages.
Congress leaders also say the allegations against Nagendra should be discussed in the House.
Nagendra says he did not commit the wrongdoing.
He says the money involved was recovered and that a special investigation team cleared him.
Priyank Kharge said investigative agencies and political leaders should be treated by the same standards.
The two sides disagree about the evidence and whether Nagendra should leave office.
Karnataka Congress MLAs and MLCs protested near the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha against the BJP.
Congress accused the BJP of disrupting Assembly proceedings while demanding Minister B. Nagendra’s resignation.
Congress leaders said drought relief and drinking-water problems in 18 districts were being prevented from being discussed.
B. Nagendra denied wrongdoing, said the money had been recovered, and cited an SIT clean chit.
Congress leaders disputed the BJP’s allegations, while differing claims were made about Nagendra’s status in investigative chargesheets.
- Who
- Karnataka Congress legislators, Minister B. Nagendra, and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
- What
- Congress legislators staged a protest over the BJP’s demand for Nagendra’s resignation and alleged disruption of Assembly proceedings.
- When
- Friday; the Congress said the session would continue until August 27.
- Where
- Near the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Vidhana Soudha premises in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Why
- Congress said the protest was necessary because the BJP was preventing discussion of Nagendra’s allegations, drought relief, and drinking-water problems.
Congress and Nagendra’s Position
BJP’s Position
Whether Nagendra should resign
Congress and Nagendra’s Position
Congress leaders said the allegations should be discussed in the Assembly and argued that Nagendra has not been convicted. Nagendra said he had faced allegations but had come out clean in court and should not resign.
BJP’s Position
The BJP is demanding B. Nagendra’s resignation over his alleged involvement in the tribal welfare scam.
Assembly proceedings
Congress and Nagendra’s Position
Congress accused the BJP of stalling the House to prevent discussion of drought relief, drinking-water shortages, and questions about central funding.
BJP’s Position
Congress portrayed the BJP as disrupting proceedings while pressing its demand for Nagendra’s resignation; no direct BJP statement is provided in the article.
Evidence and investigations
Congress and Nagendra’s Position
Nagendra cited an SIT clean chit, while Priyank Kharge said the CID did not name Nagendra. Kharge also alleged that the CBI named him in a second chargesheet and called the issue politically motivated.
BJP’s Position
The BJP’s demand is based on allegations connecting Nagendra to the scam; the article does not provide the BJP’s detailed response to Congress’s claims about the investigations.
- Protesting group
- Karnataka Congress MLAs and MLCs, joined by Minister B. Nagendra
- Target of protest
- The Bharatiya Janata Party
- Allegation
- Nagendra is accused of involvement in an alleged tribal welfare scam
- Reported amount
- Congress leaders said the BJP described the alleged scam as involving Rs 184 crore
- Nagendra’s response
- He said the money had been recovered and that the SIT gave him a clean chit
- Drought situation
- Congress said drought-relief work was underway in 18 districts and people lacked drinking water
- Relief request
- Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar urged all-party MPs to seek Rs 10,000 crore in drought-relief funds for Karnataka