Opposition accuses state government of shielding minister amidst corruption claims

The Karnataka opposition intensified its attack on the ruling coalition on Wednesday, accusing the government of protecting Planning and Statistics Minister B. Nagendra despite mounting evidence of his involvement in the Walmiqui Corporation controversy.

B.Y. Vijayendra, the BJP state president, addressed a crowd of legislators and supporters inside the assembly, insisting that any respect for institutional dignity requires Nagendra’s immediate resignation. He warned that failure to act would prevent the house from discussing vital matters such as water scarcity, the alleged KPSC scam, and tribal welfare.

R. Ashok, speaking for the opposition, emphasized that the Scheduled Tribe development fund must be channeled directly into community projects and not be jeopardised by the minister’s alleged misconduct. He questioned the chief minister’s hesitation to act, suggesting that political calculations over caste dynamics were influencing the decision.

Both leaders highlighted that BJP workers have been staging protests in front of deputy commissioner offices across the state for the past 48 hours, and they called for a swift resolution that would allow the assembly to function without obstruction.