Karnataka Leaders Plan Seven-Day March Against Corruption
Senior BJP and JD(S) leaders in Karnataka have decided to take out a seven-day ‘padyatra’ starting August 3 to protest against corruption under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s leadership. The march will include former Chief Ministers BS Yediyurappa and HD Kumaraswamy.
Details of the Meeting
BJP Karnataka President BY Vijayendra informed that the leaders discussed various scams, including the ST Development Corporation scam, where 187 crores meant for the welfare of the scheduled tribe community was allegedly looted by the Congress government. Other scams like the MUDA scam were also highlighted.
Participation and Duration
The ‘padyatra’ will start on August 3 and conclude on August 10. National leaders of the BJP will also be present on the final day.
Government’s Response
When asked about potential government obstruction, Vijayendra stated that they would not stop the march even if the government tried to intervene.
Finance Minister’s Criticism
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman criticized Siddaramaiah for not taking action against bank officials involved in the Maharishi Valmiki Corporation Board scam. She questioned the lack of outrage over the misuse of funds meant for the Valmiki community.
Previous Protests
Earlier on July 19, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly witnessed a ruckus over alleged financial irregularities, with the opposition BJP and JD(S) staging a protest against the government and demanding Siddaramaiah’s resignation.
Doubts Revealed
Karnataka -: Karnataka is a state in the southern part of India. It has many big cities like Bengaluru, which is known as the ‘Silicon Valley of India’.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the two major political parties in India.
JD(S) -: JD(S) stands for Janata Dal (Secular). It is a regional political party in Karnataka.
BS Yediyurappa -: BS Yediyurappa is a senior politician in Karnataka and a member of the BJP. He has served as the Chief Minister of Karnataka multiple times.
HD Kumaraswamy -: HD Kumaraswamy is a senior politician in Karnataka and a member of the JD(S). He has also served as the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
padyatra -: Padyatra is a Hindi word that means ‘journey on foot’. It is often used for long walks or marches to protest or raise awareness about an issue.
corruption -: Corruption means dishonest or illegal behavior, especially by powerful people like government officials or police officers.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah -: Siddaramaiah is a senior politician in Karnataka and a member of the Indian National Congress. He is currently serving as the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
BY Vijayendra -: BY Vijayendra is a politician in Karnataka and the President of the BJP in the state. He is also the son of BS Yediyurappa.
scam -: A scam is a dishonest scheme or fraud, usually to make money illegally.
ST Development Corporation scam -: This refers to a corruption case involving the Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, where funds meant for the development of tribal communities were misused.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman -: Nirmala Sitharaman is a senior politician in India and the current Finance Minister of the country. She is responsible for managing the financial affairs of the government.
Maharishi Valmiki Corporation Board scam -: This is another corruption case where funds meant for the welfare of the Valmiki community were misused by some officials.
