Karnataka Minister B Nagendra Resigns Amid Scam Allegations

NEW DELHI: Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar said on Saturday that B Nagendra, who held the planning and statistics portfolio, has submitted his resignation from the state cabinet to avoid embarrassment to the Congress party, though the final decision will be taken after discussions with the party high command.

Nagendra resigned from the state Cabinet on Friday as opposition protested over his alleged involvement in the Rs 89 crore Valmiki Corporation scam, marking his second resignation, 25 days after being re-inducted on August 3.

"Minister Nagendra has submitted his resignation to avoid embarrassment to the party. After discussing with the party high command, a final decision will be taken tomorrow morning," Shivakumar said.

According to Shivakumar, Nagendra submitted his resignation after being hurt by opposition’s "false allegations" and the disruption of Assembly proceedings, highlighting his role as "a Dalit and Scheduled Caste leader" who defeated senior BJP leaders in elections.

"Though Nagendra has handed over his resignation letter, it will be brought to the notice of the Congress high command in Delhi, and after discussing with them, a final decision will be taken," he said.

"Nagendra is innocent. After verifying the investigation reports and after discussion, it is known that there is no truth in the allegations against him," he said, adding that the manner in which the BJP had treated a Dalit leader had hurt the wider poor population.

The opposition BJP, which along with ally JD(S), has been demanding for the Ballary rural MLA’s sacking ever since he made his way back into the Cabinet, described his stepping down as a "victory".

"Today I am voluntarily tendering my resignation as minister," Nagendra said on Friday as he broke down in tears in front of the reporters Nagendra compared himself being targeted to Lord Ram’s killing of Shambuka in Ramayana, alleging that the "manuwadis" never want a tribal person to rise.

According to the Uttara Kand of Ramayana, ascetic Shambuka was killed by Rama for performing penance. He claimed that his name had been included in the second charge sheet filed by the central agencies, and that it was not included in the first CBI charge sheet.

Nagendra thanked several party leaders like Shivakumar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Siddaramaiah for extending support to him, stating he voluntarily resigned despite repeated assurances from the party leaders.

Nagendra also said he would travel across Karnataka, including the 15 Assembly constituencies reserved for Scheduled Tribes, to highlight the alleged injustice.