BJP Protests in Karnataka Over Valmiki Development Corporation Scandal
Bengaluru, Karnataka – On July 19, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and legislators staged a protest at the Gandhi statue of the Karnataka Vidhan Soudha. They demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over alleged scams in the Maharishi Valmiki Development Corporation and MUDA.
BJP leader CT Ravi accused the Congress party of misusing funds meant for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC-ST) for elections in Karnataka and Telangana. He stated, “Congress has looted money from SC-ST and used that money for the elections in Karnataka and Telangana. We are protesting against that… The CM should resign…”
In response, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the ruling party would address scams that occurred during the BJP’s tenure in the state. He mentioned, “When BJP government was there in Karnataka, several scams took place… We will tell this before the Assembly and will bring this on record. More than Rs 300 cr scams have taken place under the BJP government. We will tell this in House that they are the kings of corruption…”
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also criticized the BJP for not increasing budgetary allocations for SC-ST communities when they were in power. He responded to a debate in the House under Rule 69 on the alleged misuse of grants by the Valmiki Development Corporation.
The controversy escalated after an official of the corporation, Chandrasekaran, died by suicide, leaving a note alleging multi-crore corruption. Chandrasekaran, a superintendent with the MVDC, named three officials in his six-page suicide note, demanding action against them.
Doubts Revealed
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, which is one of the major political parties in India.
Karnataka -: Karnataka is a state in the southern part of India. Its capital city is Bengaluru.
Valmiki Development Corporation -: The Maharishi Valmiki Development Corporation is an organization meant to help people from the SC-ST (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) communities.
Vidhan Soudha -: Vidhan Soudha is the seat of the state legislature of Karnataka, where important government meetings and decisions take place.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah -: Siddaramaiah is a senior politician from the Congress party and the current Chief Minister of Karnataka.
CT Ravi -: CT Ravi is a leader from the BJP who has accused the Congress party of misusing funds.
Congress -: Congress is another major political party in India, often seen as a rival to the BJP.
SC-ST communities -: SC-ST stands for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, which are groups of people in India who have historically faced social disadvantages and discrimination.
DK Shivakumar -: DK Shivakumar is the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka and a member of the Congress party.
multi-crore -: Multi-crore means involving many crores of rupees. One crore is equal to 10 million rupees.
