BJP Protests in Bengaluru Over Alleged 180 Crore Scam Involving Karnataka Minister B Nagendra
Bengaluru, Karnataka – On July 15, BJP leaders in Karnataka staged a protest outside the Vidhana Soudha, accusing the state government of corruption following the arrest of Minister B Nagendra by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The arrest is linked to an alleged 180 crore scam involving the Maharishi Valmiki Corporation, which is responsible for welfare programs for scheduled tribes.
Senior BJP leader CT Ravi stated, “They (the Congress) have looted Maharishi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. Congress has used this money for election purposes. It is our duty to serve justice to the Dalits.”
Leader of opposition R Ashoka added, “This government will hike the price of everything as they don’t have money. Karnataka Congress is the ATM for the Delhi Congress.”
Karnataka Tribal Affairs & Sports Minister B Nagendra is in judicial custody till July 18. The arrest followed ED raids on locations linked to Nagendra and Corporation MD Basanagouda Daddal. Daddal claimed he had not received any notice from the ED and was cooperating with the investigation.
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar countered the BJP’s claims, saying, “All scams have been created by the BJP during its tenure. BJP is the father of scams.”
Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge mentioned that an SIT has been formed to investigate the allegations and urged the BJP to raise its concerns in the assembly.
The alleged corruption case came to light after an official of the corporation died by suicide, leaving a note alleging multi-crore corruption.
