BJP Yuva Morcha Protests in Bengaluru Demanding Exit of B. Nagendra
The BJP Yuva Morcha staged a protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Wednesday, demanding that the Karnataka government and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar seek the resignation of Minister B. Nagendra over an alleged multi-crore scam in the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.
During the demonstration, party workers raised slogans accusing the Congress high command and Rahul Gandhi of being shareholders in the scam. Addressing the protesters, BJP Yuva Morcha Bengaluru Central district president Jagadish R. Chandra stated that Nagendra should resign because the case remains under investigation.
- Call for Resignation: Chandra noted that Nagendra had previously resigned regarding the controversy and argued it is not right to give him another ministerial opportunity.
- Agitation Warning: The Yuva Morcha warned it would intensify protests under BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra and Yuva Morcha state president Dheeraj Muniraju if Nagendra does not step down.
- Criticism of Administration: Chandra accused the government of neglecting farmers, students, and women, highlighting that no women received ministerial berths in the Cabinet expansion and pointing out delays in portfolio allocations.
- Dharwad Student Protests: Chandra criticized the Chief Minister for traveling to Delhi instead of visiting protesting students in Dharwad.
The protest also saw participation from BJP Yuva Morcha Bengaluru North district president Yatin Venkatesh, along with other party office-bearers and workers.
Reacting to the demonstration, Minister B. Nagendra termed the allegations "ridiculous" and politically motivated, stating that the charges are before the court and the trial is ongoing. He claimed he was targeted because the Congress swept all five Assembly constituencies in Ballari district, emphasizing that not a single rupee of the Rs 84 crore recovered was taken from him.
Nagendra further alleged that the CBI was raking up the issue through notices and statements during the Cabinet expansion as part of a conspiracy to implicate him and keep him entangled for 10 to 20 years.
