Bengaluru, August 27: Senior BJP leader R. Ashoka has accused Minister B. Nagendra of corruption within the Valmiki Development Corporation. During a press conference in Bengaluru, Ashoka stated that the party has consistently fought against Nagendra in the assembly, asserting that his resignation is inevitable.
Ashoka revealed that they have submitted a petition to the Governor requesting a CBI and ED investigation. He criticized the minister for allegedly forgetting his Dalit identity when funds meant for the community were misappropriated. “Now they are seeking caste protection,” he remarked, questioning why Chandrashekar had to commit suicide if there was no scam. The government must explain why Nagendra was reinstated in the cabinet.
He further alleged that Nagendra’s return to the cabinet was orchestrated by the high command to conceal the mastermind behind the scam. “We have made it clear that those who embezzle Dalit funds should not be in the cabinet. Our struggle will bear fruit, and Nagendra’s resignation is certain. If no decision is made within a week, we will besiege the Chief Minister‘s residence,” Ashoka warned.
The opposition leader emphasized that their fight against issues like the Bidadi Township project and NICE will continue and will be raised in the next assembly session. He expressed frustration over not being provided a house despite being the opposition leader, asserting that he does not need Congress leaders for support. “My mentor is Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and my party is solely the BJP,” he stated.
Discussing comments made by Home Minister Priyank Kharge regarding the registration of the RSS, Ashoka claimed that many clubs remain unregistered. He pointed out that while Ganesh and Christian associations do not require registration, Kharge’s constitution mandates it for the RSS.
“We adhere to Babasaheb Ambedkar’s constitution. The Congress government may talk about ‘garbage removal,’ but nothing has changed. Shops have opened on pedestrian paths, and old vehicles clutter every street. Forming committees will not lead to improvements; we need grants, implementation officers, and dedicated departments, which are lacking in the government. Despite having a National Education Policy, it has not been implemented,” he added.
Ashoka criticized the state government for declaring drought merely as a formality. He demanded that the government officially declare drought in 175 taluks and provide a clear explanation of the funds being released. He noted that the government only declared drought after the situation worsened, likening it to closing the gates after the fort has been looted.
“I had previously written to the government requesting an early drought declaration. Now, severe drought has been declared in 89 taluks and moderate drought in 12. I have visited several areas, including Mandya and Mysuru, and BJP legislators have also conducted assessments,” he explained.
He insisted that drought should have been declared in 175 taluks, but the number was reduced due to a lack of funds. Each taluk is receiving only 1 crore rupees, and their demand for 50,000 rupees per acre in compensation has not been considered. He alleged that the government is only declaring drought as a formality due to ongoing farmer protests.
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