PTI
Bengaluru
For the second time in two years, Karnataka minister B Nagendra resigned from the state cabinet on Friday amid the opposition heat over his alleged involvement in the Rs 89 crore Valmiki Corporation scam.
His move came hours after Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who re-induced the Ballary rural MLA in a cabinet expansion on August 3, said that he had left the decision on the matter with his junio colleague.
Shortly after his arrival from Delhi, Nagendra announced his resignation as Planning and Statistics Minister, 25 days after being re-inducted.
Opposition BJP, which along with ally JD(S), has been demanding for his sacking ever since he made his way back into the cabinet, described his stepping down as a “victory,” and the loss of first wicket for Shivakumar government.
“Today I am voluntarily tendering my resignation as minister,” an emotional Nagendra who broke down and wiped his tears, told reporters here. He said he has submitted his resignation to the CM.
Speaking in a choked voice, Nagendra compared the BJP’s targeting of him to Lord Rama’s killing of Shambuka in Ramayana and alleged that the “manuwadis”, apparently referring to the saffron party, never wanted a tribal person to rise. Nagendra said he did not want to embarrass his party.
or allow the conspiracies of “manuwadis and vile communal forces” to gain an upper hand in state politics. He claimed that his name had been included in the second chargesheet filed by the central agencies “in a hurry”. “I have no role in the Valmiki Corporation scam. Did I sign anywhere, give any direction or write any note sheet?” he said.
He questioned why Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had not resigned when nationalised Union Bank of India was allegedly involved in the transfer of funds in the scam. Also, he said he was prepared to resign as an MLA and go to the “people’s court”.
