BJP Yuva Morcha Protests in Bengaluru Demanding Minister's Resignation Over Scam Allegations

Protest Against Minister B. Nagendra

Bengaluru, Aug 12: On Wednesday, the BJP Yuva Morcha organized a demonstration at Freedom Park in Bengaluru, urging the Karnataka government and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to demand the resignation of Minister B. Nagendra due to his alleged involvement in a multi-crore scam linked to the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.

Protesters chanted slogans accusing the Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, of being complicit in the tribal welfare scandal.

Jagadish R. Chandra, the president of BJP Yuva Morcha Bengaluru Central district, addressed the crowd, stating that Nagendra should step down while the investigation into the alleged scam is ongoing.

“The investigation is still in progress. Nagendra had previously resigned over this issue, and it is inappropriate for him to continue serving as a minister,” he remarked.

Chandra warned that if Nagendra did not resign, the BJP Yuva Morcha would escalate its protests under the guidance of BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra and Yuva Morcha state president Dheeraj Muniraju.

He further criticized the Congress government for neglecting the needs of farmers, students, and women, pointing out that the recent Cabinet expansion did not include any female ministers.

“Is the government only interested in women’s votes? What kind of fairness is this?” he questioned.

Chandra also condemned the government's handling of student protests in Dharwad, claiming that the Chief Minister prioritized trips to Delhi over addressing local issues.

“When students protest in Dharwad, no one engages with them. Yet, the Chief Minister rushes to Delhi. What kind of justice is this?” he asked, alleging that the Congress government was acting under the directives of its higher-ups.

He expressed concern over the delay in assigning portfolios to newly appointed ministers, asserting that this was hindering administrative operations and inconveniencing the public.

“Development has stalled. This government is extremely weak,” he asserted.

Among the participants in the protest were BJP Yuva Morcha Bengaluru North district president Yatin Venkatesh, along with other office-bearers and party members.

In response to the protest, Minister B. Nagendra dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, stating that the BJP was raising the issue solely because it was in the opposition.

He characterized the claims against him as “absurd” and noted that the matter was currently before the court.

“The call for my resignation is politically driven, stemming from the BJP's inability to accept the progress made by the Congress government in Karnataka,” he stated.

“Wherever the BJP is weak, they attempt to create disturbances for Congress leaders. This is a pattern observed nationwide. If I were to join the BJP, all charges against me would vanish,” he added.

Nagendra claimed he was being targeted because the Congress had won all five Assembly seats in Ballari district. “Of the Rs 84 crore seized, not a single rupee has been traced back to me,” he asserted.

He also accused the CBI of exacerbating the situation by issuing notices and making statements during the Cabinet expansion.

“They have made conspiracy allegations against me, intending to entangle me in this case for a decade or two,” he concluded.