‘Why silent on central ministers with cases’: DK Shivakumar hits back at BJP over Nagendra resignation demand

BENGALURU: Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has defended the government’s decision to reinduct Minister B Nagendra into the cabinet, asserting that the move followed due process regarding Nagendra’s involvement in the alleged multi-crore Karnataka Dalit Valmiki Corporation scam.

Speaking at the Karnataka Roundtable organised by a media house, Shivakumar hit out at the BJP, accusing its leader of remaining silent when many ministers among their ranks have criminal cases against them.

“Many central ministers have cases. Why haven’t they opened their mouth?… In the Nagendra case, Siddaramaiah and I spoke, and we took his resignation. For the last two years, he was out of the cabinet. We recieved a report from our officers’ department that he was not involved anywhere, and we included him in the cabinet,” he said.

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The controversy stems from the alleged multi-crore Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Limited scam, in which the opposition has alleged that Nagendra “looted” funds meant for the Dalit community. Nagendra had earlier stepped down from the cabinet amid allegations linked to the multi-crore scam in 2024, but was re-inducted in 2026.

Earlier on Wednesday. Shivakumar described all party leaders and workers as “disciplined soldiers” of the Congress, even as the BJP continues to demand the resignation.

Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, on Monday announced an indefinite day-and-night dharna inside the Assembly, accusing the Congress government of shielding Nagendra. “We are protesting in the Assembly, but there is no response from the Congress. They are protecting Nagendra, who looted 180 crores Dalit amount. So we demand that amount go to Dalits. That is our demand,” he said.

Since the first day of the ongoing legislative session, BJP members have been staging protests in both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, demanding the resignation of Minister B Nagendra and refusing to accept any answers from the government on the issue.

As it happened, Congress workers staged a counter-protest, alleging that the BJP itself was mired in corruption. Wearing face masks of senior BJP and JD(S) leaders, workers pushed back against the opposition’s charges. (ANI)