Karnataka govt. defends Nagendra’s inclusion in Ministry, as Opposition continues to disrupt House proceedings

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Minister for Planning, Programme Monitoring and Statistics B. Nagendra, during a press meet in Bengaluru on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN

The ruling Congress on Wednesday defended the inclusion of B. Nagendra in the Cabinet despite him being an accused in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation embezzlement case, even as the Opposition continued to disrupt proceedings in both Houses, demanding that he step down.

Amid protests and sloganeering by Opposition members, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara made statements in both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council defending the government’s decision to induct Mr. Nagendra into the Cabinet, while criticising the Opposition for disrupting House proceedings.

Mr. Parameshwara said that of the ₹89.63 crore allegedly misappropriated from the corporation, ₹79.68 crore had been recovered from its officials. He also pointed out that a special court in Bengaluru had granted bail to Mr. Nagendra on October 14, 2024, and that no court had found him guilty so far.

Quoting an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, Mr. Parameshwara said criminal cases were pending against 251 Lok Sabha members, 75 Rajya Sabha members and 14 serving Chief Ministers, arguing that the inclusion of a Minister, accused in a case, was no aberration.

“There is a drought situation in the State. In several rural areas, there is no drinking water, and we are supplying water through tankers. Fodder for livestock is also becoming scarce. There are many pressing issues before the people of the State and before us. These are the issues we need to discuss,” Mr. Parameshwar said in the Council.

Earlier, Mr. Nagendra, addressing a press conference, alleged that he was being targeted by the BJP and the JD(S) because he was a Dalit leader and that the Opposition could not tolerate his continuation in the Cabinet. Pointing out that West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari had 29 cases and serious charges against him, Mr. Nagendra said the allegations against him were still under investigation and that he was not a convict. He added that he was ready to accept any punishment if convicted by a court.

Mr. Nagendra, who was then the ST Welfare Minister in the Siddaramaiah-led government, had to resign after allegations of embezzlement surfaced in the corporation. While the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) gave Mr. Nagendra a clean chit, both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have named him in their charge sheets.

Not convinced by Mr. Parameshwara’s statement, the BJP and JD(S) members continued their protests and sloganeering, and Speaker G.S. Patil adjourned the House for lunch.

The BJP members staged a protest in front of the Kengal Hanumanthaiah statue on the Vidhana Soudha premises, demanding Mr. Nagendra’s resignation.