Minister B. Nagendra resigns, challenges BJP to face him in ‘people’s court’
Karnataka Minister B. Nagendra has resigned following allegations of involvement in a multi-crore scam at the Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. He has challenged the BJP to face him in a 'people's court' while maintaining his innocence.
Why it matters
The resignation and subsequent political challenge highlight the volatile nature of state-level corruption allegations and their impact on local governance.
After stepping down as Minister in the D.K. Shivakumar-led Congress government , B. Nagendra on Friday challenged the Opposition BJP to face him in a Janata Nyayalaya (people’s court) in the Ballari Rural Reserved (ST) constituency.
Maintaining that he had no role in the alleged scam in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd., Mr. Nagendra said he had also decided to resign as a member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
A visibly emotional Mr. Nagendra appealed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, MP Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to allow him to contest the Ballari Rural constituency again so that he could “come clean” politically.
The BJP and JD(S) have decided to undertake a 10-day padayatra from Raichur to Ballari from September 1, demanding Mr. Nagendra’s resignation over his alleged role in the multi-crore scam.
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